busy work

Idioms and Phrases

Activity meant to take up time but not actually be productive. For example, We have to put in an eight-hour day, even if we do nothing but busy work . [c. 1840]

Example Sentences

So make haste this week to tie up loose ends, especially the busy work of returning calls and emails.

From The Daily Beast

“I try to find as much time as I can in my busy work schedule to just chill out,” she has said.

From The Daily Beast

Before our busy work was done, day was glancing in through the coloured panes of the fine old chamber.

From Project Gutenberg

Then follows an hour of busy work, bringing wood to camp and packing browse.

From Project Gutenberg

"Busy work" with such materials would be worth while indeed,—yet easy to obtain as they are, they are almost never seen in use.

From Project Gutenberg

And so our world of Midgard was filled with busy work and play.

From Project Gutenberg

Kenric and his men, with the priests of St. Blane's, made busy work in burying the dead.

From Project Gutenberg