Definition of muck around

The origin of the phrase "muck around" can be traced back to Australian and New Zealand English, where it first appeared in the mid-20th century. The term "muck" is an informal word that refers to mud, dirt, or filth, while "around" means moving aimlessly or without purpose. It's believed that the term "mucking around" originated as a slang term used by Australian and New Zealand soldiers during World War II to describe their free time spent in non-combat activities. The literal meaning of "mucking around" in this context would be playing in mud or dirt, but the term came to mean wasting time doing meaningless activities without any specific goal or purpose. Today, "mucking around" is widely used in informal English conversation as a phrase that describes spending time doing unserious, aimless activities. However, some people interpret it differently, depending on the context. For example, some may view "mucking around" as a positive thing, indicating lightheartedness, fun, and an absence of seriousness, while others may interpret it negatively as a waste of time or effort. In summary, the origins of "mucking around" lie in Australian and New Zealand English, where the term was originally used by soldiers during World War II to describe their non-combat activities in a playful, informal context. Over time, the meaning of the term has evolved to describe spending time doing unplanned, unstructured activities that are not necessarily productive or constructive.