screw around

Idioms  

1. Fool around aimlessly, accomplishing nothing, as in If you boys would stop screwing around we'd have the fence painted in an hour . It is also put as screw around with , as in Stop screwing around with the new camera . The idiom probably derives from screw in the sense of “turn” or “twist.” [ Slang ; second half of 1900s]

2. Be sexually promiscuous, as in He's been screwing around behind her back for years . [ Vulgar slang ; first half of 1900s]

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Example Sentences

There are lots of ways for companies to screw around, like charging too much for parts or throwing up scary warnings — to its credit, Apple does seem to be backing off on that one.

From The Verge • Apr. 9, 2022

Saslaw added that Justice should be focused on solving West Virginia’s high poverty rate and “not screw around in Virginia.”

From Washington Times • Jan. 28, 2020

“They’re disregarding the first rule of primary politics in a crowded field, which is don’t screw around in the mud because you will get dirty,” the strategist noted.

From Fox News • Jan. 14, 2020

Even if he was joking, no one who’s seriously interested in being the chief executive of the United States would screw around with such an idea.

From Salon • Oct. 30, 2016

They don't screw around when making this stuff.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir