muck around

muck around

1. To be idle or do something without much purpose. Quit mucking around and help me take out the trash! After the stressful week that I had, I'm looking forward to just mucking around the house for the weekend. What are you doing mucking around with those knuckleheads? You're going to get into trouble.
2. To meddle, interfere, or tweak, often in an uncareful or casual way. Please don't muck around with the thermostat, I have it set exactly the way I want it. I've been mucking around with the melody but haven't been able to get it quite right.
See also: around, muck
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

muck around

or muck about
v.
To spend time idly; putter: We spent our summer afternoons mucking around in the fields and ponds. I stayed home and mucked around all day.
See also: around, muck
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • muck about
  • loiter
  • loiter around
  • loaf around
  • loaf about
  • laugh about
  • laugh about (something)
  • put (one) through it
  • put somebody through it
References in periodicals archive
I've still got the same attitude, I just like to muck around and zoom about the place.
DANNY'S RIDING HIGH ON YOUTUBE
Now between the posts for Rhyl, Southall - 43 in eight days time - confirmed "I am not here just to muck around - we want to win something."
Southall blasts Beeb for LoW no-show; League of Wales
He added: 'After the election the first thing he is going to do is go to the High Court over the Tube and muck around with the Government.
Livingstone a threat says worried aide
When asked by the Sunday People if he had experienced sex with boys Sir Arthur said: "I take a dim view of people who muck around with boys.
SIR ARTHUR C. CLARKE IN CHILD SEX STORM
Ecclestone disclosed: "I did talk to Damon about his contract and told him: 'If you muck around you will be in trouble.'
Mr BIG WARNED DAMON!; Don't mess with Williams
If you muck around at that end of the market that's what you get.
EMOTIONAL RETARD; EXCLUSIVE Star's dig at Guy Mum: He knew risks
We should not muck around with two-year bans, it should be life.
Holmes declares war on drugs
My friends and I have got into a lot of trouble because we just decided to muck around but they got my mum in.
I hate school but parents still make me go anyway
They are joined by six kids to play throw the muck muck around and smear it on the camera at the end.
BBC BOGEYMEN; MP raps 'crude' kids' show
"I've had a whole life of just mucking around and now that I've got a job where I am supposed to muck around, I've sat down at a desk and really put my mind towards it.
THE LISTINGS GUIDE; COMEDY: ADAM BLOOM