(UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, slang) An overcomplicated task, especially one perceived as a waste of time.
(UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, slang) An overcomplicated task, especially one perceived as a waste of time.
Adjusting this television is a bit of a faff.
Faff means: An overcomplicated task, especially one perceived as a waste of time.. It is mainly Irish English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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It is! Well, one bit because of the faff, they’re dotted round the room
Faff means: An overcomplicated task, especially one perceived as a waste of time.. It is mainly Irish English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
faff means: An overcomplicated task, especially one perceived as a waste of time.. Register: very informal, slang. Suitable only for casual conversation, chat and social media. Do not use in business, academic or news writing. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
“We lost a few to the greedy bastards, but they will never win! Worth the faff”
“The good news is that it counts as the delivery company's mistake if it goes missing. But it's a faff.”
“It is! Well, one bit because of the faff, they’re dotted round the room”
“And if it doesn’t work because they didn’t scan it properly they shrug & turn to the next customer. I get it’s a faff, no one makes enough money from it, but we don’t choose it!!!!”
“"What was bothering you?" Nothing I'm willing to talk about. Some things are best suited to stay in my mind only. Aren't I lovely not subjecting you to all the faff in my brain. I'm so considerate.”
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(UK, obsolete) A puff of smoke; a gust of wind.
Breakfast in bed at the royal household is a massive faff. A page boy must carry the tray upstairs, but he's banned from actually serving it. So he leaves it on the floor by the bedroom door, whereupon a housemaid picks it up and knocks …
“It’s the fliers that floor me, you know when they get you. Fear that it’s getting worse not better Liking the Nicot so far. I’ve done grafting before, able assistant hasn’t. ‘What a faff in comparison’ I think was his view. We shall see”
“I am going to get a Muslim swimsuit when I move, and I am going to LOVE IT. Haven't had a swimsuit in nearly 20 years for the same reasons, including while living in California. Just such a faff, why bother. BUT NOW...!”
“I adore the Steam Controller, but getting non-Steam games to work with it is a faff and a half (and sometimes doesn't appear possible at all). If you want something plug-and-play that works across all PC launchers this isn't it, but for Steam-only players it's great. My review:”
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(originally, northern England, typically, _, 'in a faff') A state of confused or frantic activity.
God it must be a faff having to get nigh-on naked every time your bladder runneth over, and imagine how much worse it must be if you only have a 20-second break to run off stage to the loo.
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