goof off
phr. v..phr. v.. to spend time doing silly things or being lazy when you should be working or studying.
phr. v.. to engage in idle or frivolous activity, specifically as a means of avoiding work or responsibility; carries a lighthearted but mildly critical tone.
Stop goofing off and finish your homework.
The manager caught the employees goofing off in the break room instead of stocking the shelves.
While the rest of the department scrambled to meet the deadline, he spent the afternoon goofing off on social media.
- Particles
- off
- Separability
- inseparable
- Pattern
- goof + off
Intransitive; usually describes behavior in a workplace or school setting.
Contrast with 'mess around' (similar) or 'procrastinate' (more formal/serious); note that 'goof off' implies a playful or silly lack of focus.
He is goofing off his work.He is goofing off at work.this phrasal verb is intransitive and cannot take a direct object; use a prepositional phrase to show location.