Faff around Definition 1 of 2Pro Tip 1/3Time Wasting Use 'faff around' when someone is wasting time instead of doing important tasks. He spent hours faffing around before starting his assignment. Pro Tip 2/3Colloquial Context 'Faff around' is casual and best suited for informal conversations. During the break, they faff around without worrying about work. Pro Tip 3/3Negative Connotation The phrase has a slight negative tone, suggesting unproductiveness. The manager hates when employees faff around on the job.