Sometimes, people spend time doing things that don’t really help them. They might be daydreaming in class, playing video games instead of doing homework, or just not using their time well. When this happens, we say they are “wasting time.” But instead of always saying those exact words, people often use fun and creative similes. A simile is a phrase that compares two things using “like” or “as.” These phrases make speaking and writing more interesting.
In this article, you’ll learn similes that describe wasting time. Each simile gives a clearer picture of what it feels like when someone is not being useful with their time. Some similes are silly, some are clever, but all of them help us better understand what wasting time looks like. Let’s explore these examples and learn how to spot them or use them in your own writing.
Similes for Wasting Time
1. Like a dog chasing its tail
Meaning: Doing something that goes in circles and gets nowhere.
Samples: He kept redoing the same math problem, like a dog chasing its tail. / She was cleaning the same spot again and again like a dog chasing its tail.
To Put it Another Way: He wasn’t making progress. / She kept going in circles.
2. As slow as a snail on a hot sidewalk
Meaning: Moving very slowly and wasting time.
Samples: The group was moving as slow as a snail on a hot sidewalk. / He finished his chores as slow as a snail.
To Put it Another Way: He was taking forever. / They weren’t in a hurry at all.
3. Like watching paint dry
Meaning: Spending time on something very boring.
Samples: That meeting felt like watching paint dry. / Doing that worksheet again was like watching paint dry.
To Put it Another Way: It was super boring. / Time felt really slow.
4. As useful as a screen door on a submarine
Meaning: Not helpful or productive at all.
Samples: His ideas were as useful as a screen door on a submarine. / That task felt pointless like a screen door on a submarine.
To Put it Another Way: It didn’t help at all. / That was a waste of effort.
5. Like pouring water into a leaky bucket
Meaning: Wasting effort because nothing is getting done.
Samples: Studying without focus is like pouring water into a leaky bucket. / Helping him now is like pouring water into a leaky bucket.
To Put it Another Way: It’s not making a difference. / Nothing is staying in place.
6. Like chasing the wind
Meaning: Trying to do something that can’t be done.
Samples: Trying to change his mind is like chasing the wind. / Catching up on sleep now is like chasing the wind.
To Put it Another Way: It’s impossible. / It won’t work.
7. As pointless as rearranging chairs on the Titanic
Meaning: Doing something useless while ignoring bigger problems.
Samples: Worrying about the decorations was as pointless as rearranging chairs on the Titanic. / His effort to fix that small thing was just rearranging chairs on the Titanic.
To Put it Another Way: It didn’t matter. / He was focused on the wrong thing.
8. Like digging a hole in water
Meaning: Doing something that disappears right away.
Samples: Trying to fix that without help is like digging a hole in water. / It felt like all our hard work was like digging a hole in water.
To Put it Another Way: Nothing stayed. / It all vanished.
9. Like a hamster running on a wheel
Meaning: Working hard without getting anywhere.
Samples: I was doing chores like a hamster on a wheel. / Her day felt like a hamster on a wheel busy but pointless.
To Put it Another Way: She kept going but didn’t get ahead. / I was stuck.
10. As busy as a bee in a field of plastic flowers
Meaning: Working hard, but there’s no reward.
Samples: He was as busy as a bee in a field of plastic flowers doing a lot, but nothing useful. / All that planning felt like buzzing around fake flowers.
To Put it Another Way: It looked active, but it meant nothing. / No real progress.
11. Like reading a book with blank pages
Meaning: Spending time on something with no value.
Samples: That assignment was like reading a book with blank pages. / Her idea was like reading blank pages empty and useless.
To Put it Another Way: There was nothing to learn. / It didn’t help at all.
12. As slow as a traffic jam on a frozen road
Meaning: Moving so slow it feels like nothing is happening.
Samples: The meeting was as slow as a traffic jam on a frozen road. / Their progress was like that frozen traffic.
To Put it Another Way: Everything was stuck. / Nothing moved forward.
13. Like trying to catch smoke with your hands
Meaning: Doing something that’s impossible to hold on to.
Samples: Fixing that problem without help felt like trying to catch smoke. / His idea was like trying to catch smoke with your hands.
To Put it Another Way: It didn’t work. / You couldn’t grab it.
14. As useful as a pencil with no lead
Meaning: Not helpful at all.
Samples: That broken tool was as useful as a pencil with no lead. / Her answer was like using a pencil with no lead.
To Put it Another Way: It couldn’t do the job. / It was pointless.
15. Like planting seeds in concrete
Meaning: Trying something that will never grow or succeed.
Samples: Talking to him felt like planting seeds in concrete. / Their plan was like planting seeds in concrete no chance to work.
To Put it Another Way: It was a waste of time. / Nothing would grow.
16. Like staring at a blank wall
Meaning: Spending time doing nothing interesting.
Samples: That class was like staring at a blank wall. / She sat there like she was staring at a blank wall.
To Put it Another Way: It was boring. / Nothing happened.
17. Like waiting for toast to cook in the freezer
Meaning: Hoping for something that won’t happen.
Samples: He was waiting for results like toast in the freezer. / Her plan was like cooking toast in a freezer.
To Put it Another Way: It made no sense. / It wasn’t going to happen.
18. Like fishing in a swimming pool
Meaning: Trying something where success is impossible.
Samples: Asking him to help was like fishing in a pool. / It was like fishing in a swimming pool nothing there.
To Put it Another Way: There was no chance. / You were looking in the wrong place.
19. Like chasing bubbles in the wind
Meaning: Running after something that will pop or disappear.
Samples: Their idea was like chasing bubbles in the wind. / I felt like I was chasing bubbles fun at first but gone fast.
To Put it Another Way: It was short-lived. / It disappeared fast.
20. As pointless as combing a bald man’s hair
Meaning: Doing something with no possible result.
Samples: Fixing that part was like combing a bald man’s hair. / His help was like using a comb on a bald head.
To Put it Another Way: It didn’t make sense. / It was silly and useless.
21. Like ironing wrinkled water
Meaning: Trying to fix something that can’t be fixed.
Samples: That job was like ironing wrinkled water. / He kept trying, but it was like ironing water.
To Put it Another Way: It couldn’t be done. / It was just strange.
22. Like yelling at a brick wall
Meaning: Speaking but not being heard or listened to.
Samples: Telling him to stop was like yelling at a brick wall. / I talked and talked it was just a wall.
To Put it Another Way: No one listened. / It was ignored.
23. As slow as honey dripping in winter
Meaning: Moving very slowly.
Samples: That line was as slow as honey in winter. / Our group worked like cold honey.
To Put it Another Way: It took forever. / It barely moved.
24. Like trying to teach a rock to sing
Meaning: Trying to do something that’s silly and impossible.
Samples: Helping him focus was like teaching a rock to sing. / It felt silly, like giving singing lessons to a stone.
To Put it Another Way: He didn’t get it. / It was a waste.
25. Like painting with invisible ink
Meaning: Creating something no one can see.
Samples: All that effort was like painting with invisible ink. / His work disappeared like invisible art.
To Put it Another Way: It left no trace. / It couldn’t be seen.
26. As empty as a broken soda can
Meaning: Not full of anything helpful or fun.
Samples: That talk was as empty as a broken soda can. / She gave an answer that was just empty.
To Put it Another Way: It had no value. / It was useless.
27. Like making snowballs in the desert
Meaning: Trying something in the wrong place or time.
Samples: That idea was like snowballs in the desert. / Her plan didn’t fit, like cold snow in hot sand.
To Put it Another Way: It didn’t belong. / It couldn’t work.
28. Like drawing water with a net
Meaning: Trying something that can’t hold together.
Samples: That project was like using a net for water. / It slipped through like water through holes.
To Put it Another Way: It didn’t stick. / It couldn’t hold up.
29. Like running a race with no finish line
Meaning: Doing something with no end or goal.
Samples: That chore was like a race with no finish line. / It never ended, like running forever.
To Put it Another Way: It felt endless. / There was no stopping point.
30. As lost as a kite in a hurricane
Meaning: Totally out of control and wasting energy.
Samples: His thoughts were as lost as a kite in a hurricane. / She looked like a kite in the storm.
To Put it Another Way: It was all over the place. / No direction.
31. Like typing on a computer that’s not plugged in
Meaning: Doing something that looks real but doesn’t work.
Samples: That test was like typing on a computer with no power. / His effort didn’t count it wasn’t even plugged in.
To Put it Another Way: It didn’t do anything. / There was no result.
32. Like turning a square into a circle
Meaning: Trying to make something into what it’s not.
Samples: Making that rule fit was like shaping a square into a circle. / It just didn’t fit.
To Put it Another Way: It didn’t work. / Wrong shape, wrong plan.
33. Like a balloon with no air
Meaning: Empty or lacking purpose.
Samples: His idea was like a balloon with no air. / It looked fun but had nothing inside.
To Put it Another Way: It was flat. / It didn’t rise.
34. As meaningful as doodles on a foggy window
Meaning: It disappears and means little.
Samples: That project felt like doodles in the fog. / It was soon gone and forgotten.
To Put it Another Way: It didn’t last. / It faded fast.
35. Like solving a puzzle with missing pieces
Meaning: Working without the things you need.
Samples: That homework was like a puzzle with missing pieces. / I couldn’t finish it.
To Put it Another Way: It was incomplete. / Some parts were gone.
36. Like pushing a rope
Meaning: Trying something that doesn’t work that way.
Samples: Leading that group was like pushing a rope. / Nothing moved the way it should.
To Put it Another Way: It was hard to lead. / They didn’t follow.
37. Like a phone with no signal
Meaning: Unable to connect or work properly.
Samples: His answer was like a phone with no signal. / The group felt lost no signal.
To Put it Another Way: We couldn’t connect. / It didn’t work.
38. Like running a blender with no lid
Meaning: Messy and out of control.
Samples: The project got wild like a blender without a lid. / Everything flew everywhere.
To Put it Another Way: It got messy. / It was too wild.
39. Like mailing a letter without a stamp
Meaning: Doing something that won’t get to the goal.
Samples: That note was like a letter with no stamp. / It never got there.
To Put it Another Way: It didn’t deliver. / It stopped halfway.
40. Like painting over mud
Meaning: Trying to cover a big mess with something small.
Samples: His fix was like painting over mud. / The problem stayed under the paint.
To Put it Another Way: It didn’t solve anything. / The mess stayed.
41. Like a game with no rules
Meaning: Confusing and with no direction.
Samples: That day felt like a game with no rules. / We didn’t know what to do.
To Put it Another Way: It was random. / No one understood it.
42. As broken as a clock with no hands
Meaning: Not working and not helpful.
Samples: That plan was like a clock with no hands. / It couldn’t tell time.
To Put it Another Way: It was useless. / It didn’t guide us.
43. Like pouring juice into a torn cup
Meaning: Everything you put in just leaks out.
Samples: The work kept disappearing, like juice in a broken cup. / Nothing stayed.
To Put it Another Way: The effort was wasted. / It was leaking out.
44. Like a swing with no chain
Meaning: Something that can’t even start.
Samples: That idea was like a swing with no chain. / It couldn’t move.
To Put it Another Way: It couldn’t work. / Nothing supported it.
45. Like opening an umbrella in a hurricane
Meaning: Trying something silly in a bad situation.
Samples: She tried to fix it like opening an umbrella in a hurricane. / The storm just blew it away.
To Put it Another Way: It was a weak effort. / It didn’t help.
46. Like a flashlight with no batteries
Meaning: Looks useful but doesn’t work.
Samples: That tool was like a flashlight without batteries. / We needed power.
To Put it Another Way: It didn’t work. / It had no energy.
47. Like ice cream on a hot sidewalk
Meaning: Something good that quickly disappears.
Samples: His plan melted like ice cream in the sun. / It didn’t last.
To Put it Another Way: It was gone fast. / It couldn’t hold up.
48. Like throwing confetti in the wind
Meaning: Pretty, but pointless and gone fast.
Samples: Their plan was like confetti in the wind. / It looked fun but blew away.
To Put it Another Way: It was light and didn’t last. / It flew off.
49. Like a story with no ending
Meaning: Feels unfinished or useless.
Samples: That task was like a story with no end. / We didn’t know when to stop.
To Put it Another Way: It wasn’t complete. / It just stopped.
50. Like a ladder with no rungs
Meaning: Can’t climb or move up.
Samples: That job felt like a ladder with no rungs. / You couldn’t reach the top.
To Put it Another Way: There was no way to succeed. / It went nowhere.
Find the Topics: Similes for Wasting Time
Mrs. Bell gave the class a group project on Monday. Everyone had one week to finish it. Logan joined a team with three of his friends, but things didn’t go as planned.
On the first day, they just joked around, laughing like they were watching paint dry. Logan tried to lead, but it was like pushing a rope nobody listened. One friend started typing, but the laptop wasn’t even on. It was like typing on a computer that’s not plugged in. Another said he’d plan the slideshow, but it was like painting with invisible ink. Nothing showed up.
By Wednesday, Logan felt like a hamster on a wheel running and running with no end. His friend Max kept giving silly ideas, like planting seeds in concrete. They all felt stuck, like trying to catch smoke with their hands.
Thursday came, and Logan was frustrated. His teammates were still as slow as honey dripping in winter. One kid even brought new ideas that didn’t fit like trying to turn a square into a circle. Another suggested they start over, which felt like rearranging chairs on the Titanic.
Logan sighed. “This is like mailing a letter without a stamp,” he muttered. Still, he didn’t give up. By Friday, he took over and finished most of it himself. Even if it felt like a game with no rules, at least something got done.
Your Task:
List all the similes used in the passage that describe wasting time.
Answer Key
- Like watching paint dry
- Like pushing a rope
- Like typing on a computer that’s not plugged in
- Like painting with invisible ink
- Like a hamster on a wheel
- Like planting seeds in concrete
- Like trying to catch smoke with their hands
- As slow as honey dripping in winter
- Like trying to turn a square into a circle
- Like rearranging chairs on the Titanic
- Like mailing a letter without a stamp
- Like a game with no rules
Conclusion
Wasting time happens to all of us. But instead of just saying “I wasted time,” using similes can make your words more fun and clear. These similes help show what it feels like when nothing useful is happening.
When someone says, “It was like typing on a computer that’s not plugged in,” we understand right away that their effort went nowhere. These kinds of phrases make talking and writing more interesting. They also help others see exactly what you mean without using too many words.
Try using one of these similes next time you feel like you’re wasting time. They can add color to your stories and help your readers or friends picture what’s really going on.
