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Frittering: meaning, definitions and examples

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frittering

 

[ ˈfrɪtərɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

time wasting

Frittering refers to the act of wasting time or spending it on trivial activities, often resulting in a lack of productivity. It is commonly associated with idle pastimes or distractions that do not yield significant benefits.

Synonyms

dawdling, idling, squandering, wasting

Examples of usage

  • He spent the afternoon frittering away his time on social media.
  • Instead of studying, she found herself frittering her hours away on video games.
  • They frittered the weekend by binge-watching shows instead of getting work done.

Translations

Translations of the word "frittering" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desperdício

🇮🇳 बर्बाद करना

🇩🇪 Verschwendung

🇮🇩 menghabiskan

🇺🇦 марнування

🇵🇱 marnotrawstwo

🇯🇵 浪費する

🇫🇷 gaspillage

🇪🇸 desperdicio

🇹🇷 israf

🇰🇷 낭비

🇸🇦 إهدار

🇨🇿 plýtvání

🇸🇰 plýtvání

🇨🇳 浪费

🇸🇮 razsipavanje

🇮🇸 sóun

🇰🇿 босқа жұмсау

🇬🇪 ფლანგვა

🇦🇿 israf

🇲🇽 desperdicio

Etymology

The term 'fritter' dates back to the late Middle English period, originating from the Old French word 'friture', meaning 'a frying' or 'a dish fried in oil'. The association with wasteful behavior likely evolved from the idea of little pieces of food being scattered or used inefficiently, a metaphor for time that is not utilized well. Frittering became more popular as language evolved, reflecting societal attitudes towards time management and productivity. The use of the term in contemporary contexts emphasizes a growing cultural concern regarding how time is spent in an increasingly distracted world.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,334, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.