Useful English Word or Phrase to Boost Your English: Faff / Faffing Around (Verb)

Quick summary: A very common UK word for wasting time or being indecisive and slow.

What does it mean?

To faff means to waste time on unproductive or unimportant tasks, or to take a long time to do something simple.

Is it positive or negative?

It is negative, expressing frustration at a lack of efficiency.

When do you use it?

Use it in everyday conversation when the situation matches the meaning.

Examples

Example 1: Stop faffing around with your phone and get in the car!

Question for you

Have you heard or used 'faff' in real conversation?

Are you looking for English speaking practice online?

Are you looking for English speaking practice online? Stop faffing around and book a lesson today! I offer online English lessons using Teams, Google Meet, and Zoom for my high-quality classes. My English speaking lessons help you master natural vocabulary and expressions directly from a British native speaker. If you want to study English with a British native speaker online, you can find out more about lessons here. For another useful word, see chuffed.