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goofing off

[ˈɡuːfɪŋ ɔːf]
verb phrase
brincando, fazendo bobagem, matando aula
1. to waste time or avoid work by engaging in playful or silly behavior
The students were goofing off instead of doing their homework.
Os alunos estavam brincando e fazendo bobagem em vez de fazer o dever de casa.
2. to joke around or fool around in a lighthearted manner
Stop goofing off and focus on the task at hand.
Pare de brincadeiras e concentre-se na tarefa em questão.
3. to skip or be absent from an obligation such as school or work
He got in trouble for goofing off class last week.
Ele se meteu em problemas por matar aula na semana passada.
NYC Slang
foolin' around, messin' around, ditchin' class
Synonyms
fooling aroundhorsing aroundmessing aroundslacking offwasting timeplaying around
Antonyms
working hardfocusingconcentratingbeing productivebuckle down

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
brincando, fazendo bobagem, matando aula
Most commonly used across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
zoação, brincadeira
Colloquial and informal usage
São Paulo
enrolando, fazendo graça
Slightly more formal register
Portugal
andar à brincadeira, perder tempo
Alternative phrasing preferred in European Portuguese

Related Idioms & Phrases

waste time
play the fool
cut class
shirk responsibility
fool around
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