Faffed

To faff means to spend time doing a number of small, unproductive tasks, to dawdle, or to potter about without any particular purpose or efficiency. It often implies a lack of focus or a tendency to procrastinate, leading to a delay in completing more important actions. Faffing suggests aimless activity that wastes time, often driven by distraction, indecision, or a lack of discipline. It highlights a state of being occupied with trivial matters, instead of making meaningful progress towards a desired objective.

Faffed meaning with examples

• Instead of starting his essay, he faffed around, organizing his desk, making endless cups of tea, and scrolling through social media. His procrastination tactics delayed his study time and his work eventually piled up. He then proceeded to faff some more until the last minute.
• The chef faffed in the kitchen, endlessly tweaking the presentation of each dish, taking far too long to plate and serve his customers. The constant adjusting left the food to get cold, and the quality deteriorated. This ultimately impacted his restaurants' revenue.
• She faffed with the settings on her camera for an hour before finally taking any pictures. She fiddled and fussed, unable to make a decision, as she struggled with a decision and the light faded, she realized it was too late for good shots.
• He faffed about at the airport, checking every shop and buying insignificant souvenirs while his flight began boarding, almost missing his plane. The aimless actions wasted time as his procrastination and lack of focus made him miss his plane.