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Meaning & use

waste of time

phrase·Everydayinformal

Last updated

UK/ˌweɪst əv ˈtaɪm/
US/ˌweɪst əv ˈtaɪm/

Meaning

  1. phrasefixed phraseinformal

    Something that uses up time without giving any useful or enjoyable result.

    Grammar: Usually follows be: it is a waste of time, often with an -ing clause: it's a waste of time arguing.

    Patterns

    • be a waste of time
    • be a waste of time doing something
    • It's a waste of time to do something

    Honestly, the whole meeting was a waste of time because nothing was decided.

    It's a waste of time trying to fix this old printer; just buy a new one.

    She felt that studying a subject she hated was a total waste of time.

Common combinations

a complete waste of time
The trip to the office was a complete waste of time, since it was closed.
a total waste of time
He called the film a total waste of time.
no waste of time
Reading to your child is never a waste of time.
consider something a waste of time
Many people consider doing a long commute a waste of time.
a waste of time and money
The scheme turned out to be a waste of time and money.

Synonyms and how they differ

pointless
Pointless is a single adjective that says there is no purpose, whereas waste of time stresses the time lost.
futile
Futile is more formal and suggests that effort cannot possibly succeed, not just that it is dull.
a drag
A drag is very informal and means boring or tiring, but it does not necessarily mean unproductive.
a lost cause
A lost cause is something that has no hope of success, while waste of time can describe merely unrewarding activities.

Opposites

worthwhiletime well spent

Word family

waste verb
to use something carelessly or without good result
waste noun
unnecessary use, or unwanted material left over
wasteful adjective
using more than is needed
wasted adjective
not used well or without result

Commonly confused: waste of time or waste time?

waste of time vs waste time

Waste time is a verb phrase (do not waste time arguing), while waste of time is a noun phrase that follows a form of be.

Practice

I think painting the fence before the storm is ____, because the rain will wash the paint off.

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