loafing
Idling around, doing a whole lot of nothing.
Also called loafin', loafering, loafing around.
Updated September 24, 2026
loafing pronunciation
/LOHF-in/
Meaning
Loafing is sitting still when work is waiting: porch chair, truck bed, shady spot by the store. Mama hollers quit loafing when the wood needs stacking. In the mountains you may also hear loafering for wandering around town to see who is out, which is more social roaming than pure laziness. Either way, somebody thinks you should be busier.
How folks use it
- “Y'all quit loafing and help me unload these feed sacks.”
- “He's been loafing on that porch since breakfast and the weeds are knee-high.”
Origin and etymology
English loaf as a verb meaning idle goes back a couple centuries (separate from the bread loaf). American country talk kept it for goofing off instead of working. Appalachian speakers sometimes distinguish loafing (lazy and parked) from loafering (out and about with no hard schedule). Town spots nicknamed Loafer's Glory once hosted old men telling stories between chores.