idling
/ɪdˈlɪŋ/ · id.ling
verb
- To spend in idleness; to waste; to consume. She spent the afternoon idling away in front of the TV.
- To lose or spend time doing nothing, or without being employed in business. He idled away the hours waiting for his shift to start.
- Of an engine: to run at a slow speed, or out of gear; to tick over. The car was idling in neutral, wasting fuel and making a racket.
noun
- An idle period; something done idly. The idling of the summer months was a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the school year.
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Did you know? The phrase 'idling away' was popularized in the 19th century by the English author and poet, Charles Dickens, who used it to describe the idle and aimless behavior of his characters.