fool around

Idioms  

1. Also, monkey around . Engage in idle or casual activity, putter. For example, Jim loved to fool around with his computer , or She was monkeying around with some figures in hopes of balancing the budget . [Second half of 1800s]

2. Engage in frivolous activity, waste time. For example, Instead of studying, he spends all his spare time fooling around . Also see fool away .

3. Engage in flirting or casual sexual acts; also, engage in adultery. For example, He caught the two teenagers fooling around in the basement . [1830s]

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Example Sentences

"He'd fool around at the reception desk and would check patients in," he says.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Chief among them is that Mother Nature didn’t fool around in 2023 — we have endured 25 natural disasters this year with individual price tags of more than $1 billion.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 20, 2023

“I would just fool around on the instrument, getting used to the space and the sound,” he told Colorado Public Radio.

From New York Times • Jun. 27, 2023

Those who doubt this are welcome to fool around and find out.

From Washington Post • Apr. 13, 2023

“Well, we ain’t got no ketchup. You go get wood. An’ don’t you fool around.

From "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck