as in to veg out
to spend time doing nothing
spent the morning footling about while others were working
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Recent Examples of footle
Get our daily newsletter Yet Mr Schwarzman avoids footling with life’s foot-soldiers for a reason.
—
The Economist, 19 Sep. 2019
The Economist, 19 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for footle
Verb
-
Just take care of your[self], and veg out.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Jan. 2026
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This set is damn near professional-wear, with a blazer-style top and contrast piping for those who like to veg out with dignity.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
On Monday, May 18, a 7%-illuminated crescent will hang about two degrees from Venus, with Jupiter about 20 degrees above.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
15 May 2026
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The plush beds have new headboards, tapestries by local artist Elena Carozzi now hang about the beds, bespoke wardrobes and minibars were created in dark wood and straw, and the bathrooms have been redone in green Cipollino marble.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
Travel + Leisure,
1 May 2026
Verb
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After breaking a sweat, kick back by the zen outdoor infinity pool.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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This bedrock of the community is the place to sip frozen pina coladas and kick back.—
Zoey Goto,
Travel + Leisure,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Her figures lounged, stood, or in one instance danced in unadorned, nearly empty interiors composed with broad, feathery brushstrokes.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
The New York Review of Books,
6 June 2026
-
Best Patio Deals Prepare your outdoor spaces for endless summer lounging with Wayfair’s steep discounts on the essentials.—
Better Homes & Gardens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Some were drawn first to the language and its interna ideo, only to later realize the travel benefits involved; others had learned the language specifically to bum around.—
Katie Thornton,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
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That means, as some critics of the ban have pointed out, that 18-year-olds will almost certainly bum cigarettes from older friends—the same way younger teens have acquired them since time immemorial.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
19 May 2026
Verb
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In another Amsterdam photo, a pair of identical world globes, recalling Ghirri’s passion for cartography and atlases, rest on matching supports to conjure that oldest of surrealist tropes, a pair of staring eyes.—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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Eventually, your eyes come to rest on the hotel’s facade—an impressive grid of local stone and wooden louvers that is Urquiola’s ode to the oeuvre of Rationalist architect Giuseppe Terragni.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
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The problem is that powering up the engines, idling them, and then using their massive power just to trundle around the tarmac is scarcely economical.—
David Szondy
June 07,
New Atlas,
7 June 2026
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Hardy reportedly kept production stalled by staying in his trailer for hours at a time, often leaving co-stars Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren idle on set.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Insects have to be chilled, packed, transported and released.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
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Delicious warm or chilled, brandied peaches make an elegant presentation served alongside vanilla ice cream or a simple vanilla cake like Lewis’ Busy Day Cake, still warm from the oven.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Footle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/footle. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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