whiling away the time

USAGE SUMMARY

"whiling away the time" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to spending time in a relaxed or leisurely manner. Example: "We spent the afternoon whiling away the time at the café." Alternative expressions include "passing the time" and "killing time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

It so happened that in early November of last year, a forty-plus-year-old woman, stuck in bed due to a bruised sacrum and herniated disc, spent way too many hours on Facebook while whiling away the time on round-the-clock doses of Percocet (also recommended).

The New Yorker

She was shopping for shoes, as if she were in a salon, whiling away the time while her nails were drying.

The New Yorker

#Bears #Ravens pic.twitter.com/KAWUwjCsYc November 17, 2013 And here's how the fans have been whiling away the time while the game was put on hold: FOX Baltimore (@FOXBaltimore) Boredom at Soldier Field as fans wait for the Ravens Bears game to resume.

The Guardian - Sport

"Can you imagine," he said, "while his son deflowers Marie, the duke is whiling away the time, just waiting to see blood on the sheet, proof that the bride is a virgin.

The New York Times - Arts

Whiling away the time in the hamlet's one general store, I remarked to the proprietor that his shelves seemed empty.

The New York Times - Books

He was merely turning laps, whiling away the time, when he got a phone call from Bobby Rahal in July 2007.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

JOHN PIERPONT MORGAN, it is said, whiled away the time while orchestrating a plan to avert the financial crisis of 1907 by steadfastly playing solitaire.

The Economist

While he was detained, the rapper whiled away the time by tweeting about his experience, even sharing a 'jail selfie' (as above), and launching the hashtag #FreeTrapWiz.

Independent

She whiled away the time knitting.

The New York Times

Miss X whiled away the time behind the counter on her phone.

The Guardian - Business

Shirley Temple took a vacation at Palm Springs, where she whiled away the time with her favorite sport, bicycling.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "whiling away the time" to describe engaging in light, enjoyable activities during a period of leisure, like "whiling away the time" reading a book or chatting with friends.

Common error

Avoid using "whiling away the time" to describe serious or productive activities. This phrase is best reserved for relaxed, leisurely contexts, not focused or goal-oriented tasks.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whiling away the time" functions as a phrasal verb, where 'while' (in its gerund form) combines with 'away' and 'the time' to describe the action of spending time in a leisurely or relaxed manner. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "whiling away the time" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrasal verb to describe spending time in a relaxed, leisurely manner. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its appropriateness for general use, particularly in news and media contexts. When writing, remember to reserve this phrase for situations where the activities are light and enjoyable, avoiding its use when describing focused or productive tasks. Consider alternatives like "passing the time" or "killing time" for slightly different nuances. Based on the analysis, this phrase is best suited for neutral to slightly informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

passing the time

This alternative is more general and neutral, lacking the implication of leisure often associated with "whiling away the time".

killing time

Implies boredom or impatience while waiting, whereas "whiling away the time" suggests a more pleasant experience.

spending time leisurely

This is a more descriptive and less idiomatic way of expressing the same idea, removing the nuance of the phrasal verb.

biding time

Suggests waiting for an opportune moment, rather than simply relaxing or being idle as in "whiling away the time".

occupying oneself

Focuses on keeping busy rather than the leisurely or relaxed aspect of "whiling away the time".

amusing oneself

This phrase emphasizes entertainment and enjoyment, which may not always be present when "whiling away the time".

relaxing and enjoying

A more explicit and less concise way of conveying the sense of leisure and pleasure associated with "whiling away the time".

taking it easy

Focuses more on relaxation and less on activity or how time is being used.

loafing around

Implies laziness or idleness, potentially with a negative connotation, whereas "whiling away the time" is often more neutral.

taking time out

Highlights the act of pausing from other activities, rather than the specific way the time is spent.

FAQs

How can I use "whiling away the time" in a sentence?

You can use "whiling away the time" to describe spending time in a relaxed or leisurely manner. For example, "They enjoyed "whiling away the time" at the beach".

What can I say instead of "whiling away the time"?

You can use alternatives like "passing the time", "killing time", or "spending time leisurely" depending on the context.

Is "whiling away the time" formal or informal?

"Whiling away the time" is generally considered a neutral to slightly informal expression, suitable for everyday conversation and writing, but less appropriate for highly formal or technical contexts.

What's the difference between "whiling away the time" and "wasting time"?

"Whiling away the time" implies a pleasant, relaxed way of spending time, whereas "wasting time" suggests unproductive or regrettable use of time. The first has a positive or neutral connotation, while the second is negative.