piddle away

English

Etymology

From piddle (“to act wastefully or ineffectually”), under influence from piss away.

Verb

piddle away (third-person singular simple present piddles away, present participle piddling away, simple past and past participle piddled away)

1. (transitive) To piss away: to waste or squander time, money, etc.

   He piddled away three hours at the bus station waiting for Gabe to show up.

   • 1743, A Free and Impartial Enquiry into the Extraordinary & Advantageous Bargain..., page 9:

     Those who have piddled away that Sum, would, perhaps, be glad of an Opportunity to ease us of a much greater.

Usage notes

Although originally deriving from a separate source, now often understood as a euphemistic form of piss away.

Synonyms

• (waste time): See waste time

References

• “piddle, v.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006.