putz around

putz around

1. slang To engage in aimless recreation or frivolous time-wasting; to fool around. I can't believe we spent the whole day just putzing around.
2. slang To play or tinker with something. Hey, don't putz around with the thermostat—it needs to stay at 68 degrees. Grandpa's still putzing around with that old radio, but I doubt he'll get it to work again.
See also: around, putz
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

putz around

Inf. to fiddle around; to mess around. Stop some time puzzling over her. While I was puzzling over putzing around and get to work. Those guys spend most why she had slapped me, she did it again, of their time just putzing around.
See also: around, putz
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

putz around

and futz around
in. to waste time; to do something ineffectually. (Putz is probably putz (sense 1).) Get busy and stop putzing around.
See also: around, putz
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • futz around
  • around (one's) ears
  • go around and around
  • get (someone) around the table
  • get around the table
  • gallivant around
  • find way around
References in periodicals archive
"Edelman isn't paying you to putz around," wrote another.
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This is more common at long range, but once in a while you can putz around with this position or that position, pile up jackets and daypacks to make a rest and so forth.
In a sling: a nearly forgotten shooting aid still helps steadiness in almost any position
drywall surfaces, but for other walls--those with paneling, tile, double layers of drywall or plaster--you have to measure and putz around to install each box.
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