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  • kill-time
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  • kill time
    kill time
    Pass time aimlessly. For example, There was nothing to do, so I sat around killing time until dinner was ready. This idiom was first recorded about 1768.
Synonyms

kill-time

British  

noun

    1. an occupation that passes the time

    2. ( as modifier )

      kill-time pursuits

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

kill time Idioms  
  1. Pass time aimlessly. For example, There was nothing to do, so I sat around killing time until dinner was ready. This idiom was first recorded about 1768.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

As far as possible work was confined to the fore part of the ship, and beside the ordinary routine little was done but the plaiting of rope yarns into sennit—always a kill-time.

From The Log of a Sea-Waif Being Recollections of the First Four Years of My Sea Life by Frank T. Bullen

What sailorizing was undertaken was in the nature of kill-time, and well understood as such by the men.

From The Log of a Sea-Waif Being Recollections of the First Four Years of My Sea Life by Frank T. Bullen

Hardly had he embarked upon a little kill-time tour through the public rooms when he heard hurrying steps behind him, and turned to confront Nan Ellis.

From The Messenger by Elizabeth Robins

The wagon did not move on when the men had finished working the herd as the rest of the day had been set aside for kill-time.

From The Settling of the Sage by Hal G. (Hal George) Evarts

"It's kill-time for the rest of the day," he stated.

From The Settling of the Sage by Hal G. (Hal George) Evarts

It was a very nice way to kill time with grandma, and not much more.

From Salon ● Jun. 16, 2026

It's become the place where 2.5 billion people log on monthly to kill time, be entertained and, sometimes at least, learn something.

From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2025

Twice a week, he would call, and twice a week, he would patiently kill time until his aging coach could answer.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2024

The other business sold kitchen appliances “on Amazon to kill time during the pandemic,” he said.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 8, 2023

Instead, I decide to kill time by walking the three miles to the lawyer’s office.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon

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