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Translation

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footle

/'fu:tl/
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Word: Footle

Part of Speech: Verb

Meaning: To act foolishly or to waste time, often by talking nonsense or engaging in silly activities.

Usage Instructions:
  • When to Use: You can use "footle" when you want to describe someone who is behaving in a silly or foolish manner, especially when they are not being productive.
  • Who can use it: Anyone can use this word to describe a situation where people are not taking things seriously or are just wasting time.
Examples:
  1. Simple Example: "The students were just footling around in the park instead of studying for their exams."
  2. Contextual Example: "I don't have time to footle; I need to finish my project before the deadline!"
Advanced Usage:
  • "Footle" can also convey a sense of frustration when someone is not focusing on important tasks. For instance, "Stop footling and get to work on your report!"
Word Variants:
  • Noun Form: "Footling" (e.g., "His footling during the meeting was very distracting.")
  • Adjective Form: "Footling" (e.g., "They were making footling comments instead of serious suggestions.")
Different Meaning:

In some contexts, "footle" can mean to behave in a way that is playful or light-hearted, although this is less common.

Synonyms:
  • Fool around
  • Mess around
  • Waste time
  • Tomfoolery
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While "footle" itself is not part of a common idiom, you can use related phrases that convey a similar meaning: - "Fool around" - to waste time doing silly things. - "Mess about" - similar to footling, meaning to act in a silly or aimless way.

Summary:

In summary, "footle" is a fun and informal way to describe silly or foolish behavior, often involving time-wasting. It's a great word to use when you want to express that someone is not being serious or productive.

Verb
  1. act foolishly, as by talking nonsense
  2. be about
    • The high school students like to loiter in the Central Square
    • Who is this man that is hanging around the department?

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