verb

fritter

to fritter away, to waste

Don't fritter away your money.

Don't fritter away your money.

He frittered the afternoon away watching TV.

He frittered the afternoon away watching TV.

((sth.)) away to waste (sth.) Don't fritter away your money.

Synonyms: waste, squander, misspend; Antonyms: save, conserve

From Old French 'friture' (something fried). The sense of 'break into small pieces' led to the meaning 'to waste bit by bit'.

Imagine 'frittering' away your money on fried snacks (fritters), which are small and consumed quickly, just like your resources.

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