Faff

Pronunciation

• British IPA: /fæf/
• Rhymes: -æf

Origin

Dialect, "blow in gusts."

Full definition of faff

Noun

1. (British, slang) An unnecessary or over-complicated task, especially one perceived as a waste of time.Adjusting this television is a bit of a faff.
• 2011, Patrick Kingsley, "Life with the Queen Mum revealed", The GuardianBreakfast in bed at the royal household is a massive faff. A page boy must carry the tray upstairs, but he's banned from actually serving it. So he leaves it on the floor by the bedroom door, whereupon a housemaid picks it up and knocks on said portal.

Verb

1. (British, slang) To waste time on an unproductive activity.I decided to stop faffing about and get some work done.

Usage notes

Particularly used with about or around.

Synonyms

• dick around American