pass the time

1. pass the time of day . Exchange greetings, engage in pleasantries, chat, as in Whenever I met her we would stop to pass the time of day . [First half of 1800s]

2. Occupy oneself for an interval, as in The plane was six hours late but I passed the time reading a book .

Example Sentences

Practice I did, if only in friendly emulation of the others, as a pass-the-time.

From Project Gutenberg