fiddle away

fiddle away

To squander something, usually time. You'll have to stay up all night finishing this report because you fiddled away so much time this afternoon.
See also: away, fiddle
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

fiddle something away

to waste something. She fiddled the afternoon away. Don't fiddle away the afternoon. Get to work.
See also: away, fiddle
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

fiddle away

v.
To waste or squander some period of time: I fiddled away the afternoon surfing the Internet. The lazy student fiddled the night away instead of doing homework.
See also: away, fiddle
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • at all hours
  • at all hours (of the day and night)
  • any time means no time
  • any time
  • anytime
  • a whole other ball of wax
  • about time
  • (it's) (a)bout time
  • any old time
  • ahead of your/its time
References in periodicals archive
I'll fiddle away with him in a couple of hurdle races before going chasing with him next year."
Horse Racing: Tumbling Dice survives last-fence scare to continue Taaffe's run; CORK
Like me, you're far too busy in the real world watching our young talent being drained away from the area, as an orchestra of Neros fiddle away harmoniously in Cardiff, to worry about "procurement rules".
I'm deeply honoured, Rhodri, but haven't you got more important things to do than fight with me; THE WAY I SEE IT
He's a nice horse, who had schooled well at home, and we'll just fiddle away with him and see how we go."
Racing: Ex-jockey Burke breaks the ice with 100-1 winner Sarahs Quay; SEDGEFIELD
But he was never able to fiddle away - a couple of times he had to reach for a fence or two and was very long at the ditch after Valentines.'
Racegoers win strike handicap