verb

futz

FUTS/fʌts/

To waste time tinkering or fussing.

He futzes with the settings instead of getting any work done.

Futz: spend time making ineffectual adjustments to a radio while leaving its plainly disconnected power cord untouched.

Etymology

Futz is recorded with the meanings “loaf” and “waste time,” connecting ineffectual tinkering with unproductive activity. A Yiddish origin is possible, but no specific ancestor is established.

More examples

Don't futz around in the garage all morning.
I wasted an hour futzing with the page layout.
We futzed with the decorations until we ran out of time.

Forms

futz · futzes · futzed · futzing

Similar words

tinker: Can describe useful small adjustments, not necessarily wasted time.
fiddle: Emphasizes repeated small adjustments or handling rather than wasted time.
dawdle: Means wasting time through slowness, without necessarily tinkering.