fritter away
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb: * To waste or squander something, especially money or time, in a careless, frivolous, or unwise manner, typically on small, unimportant, or trivial things.
Usage
This verb is transitive and requires a direct object (the thing being wasted). It is often used with nouns like "money," "savings," "inheritance," "time," or "talent." It carries a strong negative connotation of irresponsible or foolish behavior.
Examples
- He frittered away his entire lottery winnings on expensive gadgets and vacations within a year.
- Don't fritter away your afternoon scrolling through social media; you have an exam to study for.
- The company's poor management frittered away the investors' confidence with a series of bad decisions.
Advanced Usage
- The phrasal verb can sometimes be separated, with the object placed between "fritter" and "away."
- He frittered his youth away on pointless pursuits.
- It implies a gradual, piece-by-piece dissipation of resources, rather than a single large loss.
Variants and Related Words
- Fritter (verb): The base verb, less common on its own, carries the same core meaning of wasting or dissipating. It is almost always used with "away."
- Fritter (noun): A piece of food, such as fruit or meat, coated in batter and deep-fried. This is a completely separate meaning with a different etymology.
Synonyms
- Squander
- Waste
- Dissipate
- Blow (informal, as in "blow money on")
- Throw away
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Fritter away is the primary and almost exclusive phrasal verb form of "fritter." Other combinations are not standard.
Related Idioms
- To fritter something away is itself an idiomatic expression. A related concept is "money burns a hole in (someone's) pocket," which describes an urge to spend money quickly and often unwisely, which can lead to frittering it away.
Verb
- spend frivolously and unwisely
- Fritter away one's inheritance