arse about

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The phrase "arse about" is a slang term that means to waste time or to be lazy. It is often used in informal contexts, particularly in British English. When someone is "arsing about," they are not doing anything productive; instead, they are just idling or goofing off.

Usage Instructions:

• Context: Use "arse about" when talking about someone who is not working or being active, and instead is just wasting time.
• Tone: It is informal and can be considered a bit rude or cheeky, so it's best used among friends or in casual conversation.

Example:

• "Instead of studying for his exams, he spent the entire day arseing about with his friends."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced usage, "arse about" can also imply a sense of frustration with someone's lack of motivation or seriousness. For example: - "I don't have time for you to just arse about; we need to finish this project!"

Word Variants:

• Arse: This is a British slang term for "butt" or "rear end."
• Arsehole: A vulgar term referring to a rude or unpleasant person.

Different Meanings:

While "arse about" primarily means to waste time, it can also imply a lack of focus or seriousness in a situation.

Synonyms:

• Mess about
• Fool around
• Laze around
• Dilly-dally
• Goof off

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• Mess around: Similar to "arse about," meaning to spend time doing unimportant things.
• Fool around: Can mean to waste time or to engage in playful or silly behavior.
• Laze about: To relax and do nothing for an extended period.

Summary:

"Arse about" is an informal way of saying someone is being lazy or wasting time.

Academic

Verb

1. be lazy or idle
   • Her son is just bumming around all day