to waste something, such as money, on someone or something, foolishly. Did you fritter good money away on that old car?You frittered away one hundred dollars on that piece of junk?
to waste money, time, or an opportunity He was known to fritter away huge sums betting on the horses.I didn't do anything over vacation - I just frittered it away.
Squander or waste little by little; wear down gradually. For example, She frittered away her salary on odds and ends and saved nothing. This expression was first recorded in Alexander Pope's Dunciad (1728): "How prologues into prefaces decay, And these to notes are fritter'd quite away."
To gradually use something up, especially wastefully or without serious purpose: They frittered away their inheritance. I frittered my lottery winnings away on bad investments. I frittered away my vacation time watching television.