kill time

kill ˈtime | kill an ˈhour, a couple of ˈhours, etc. idiom

to spend time doing sth that is not important while you are waiting for sth else to happen

• We killed time playing cards.

prioritize

pri·ori·tize AW (BrE also -ise) [prioritize prioritizes prioritized prioritizing]   [praɪˈɒrətaɪz]    [praɪˈɔːrətaɪz]  verb
1. transitive, intransitive ~ (sth) to put tasks, problems, etc. in order of importance, so that you can deal with the most important first

• You should make a list of all the jobs you have to do and prioritize them.

2. transitive ~ sth (formal) to treat sth as being more important than other things

• The organization was formed to prioritize the needs of older people.

declutter

declutter 8 [declutter] (also de-clutter)  [diːˈklʌtə(r)]    [diːˈklʌtər]  verb intransitive, transitive
to remove things that you do not use so that you have more space and can easily find things when you need them
• Moving is a good opportunity to declutter.
• ~ sth a 7-step plan to help you declutter your home
• Declutter one room at a time.
• She helps people declutter their schedules, houses, and minds.

multitasking

multi·tasking f58 [multitasking]   [ˌmʌltiˈtɑːskɪŋ]    [ˌmʌltiˈtæskɪŋ]  noun uncountable

1. (computing) the ability of a computer to operate several programs at the same time

2. the ability to do several things at the same time

procrastinate

pro·cras·tin·ate [procrastinate procrastinates procrastinated procrastinating]   [prəʊˈkræstɪneɪt]    [proʊˈkræstɪneɪt]  verb intransitive (formal, disapproving)
to delay doing sth that you should do, usually because you do not want to do it
• People were dying of starvation while governments procrastinated.
Derived Word: procrastination
 
Word Origin:

late 16th cent.: from Latin procrastinat- ‘deferred till the morning’, from the verb procrastinare, from pro- ‘forward’ + crastinus ‘belonging to tomorrow’ (from cras ‘tomorrow’).

verb
1. usually passive to arrange for sth to happen at a particular time
• ~ sth (for sth) The meeting is scheduled for Friday afternoon.
• One of the scheduled events is a talk on alternative medicine.
• We'll be stopping here for longer than scheduled.

• ~ sb/sth to do sth I'm scheduled to arrive in LA at 5 o'clock.

2. ~ sth (as sth) (formal) to include sth in an official list of things
• The substance has been scheduled as a poison.
 
Word Origin:
late Middle English (in the sense ‘scroll, explanatory note, appendix’): from Old French cedule, from late Latin schedula ‘slip of paper’, diminutive of scheda, from Greek skhedē ‘papyrus leaf’. The verb dates from the mid 19th cent.  
Thesaurus:
schedule verb T, usually passive
• The meeting is scheduled for Friday afternoon.
set • • fix • • time • • book • • set sth up • • line sb/sth up • |especially BrE timetable •
schedule/set/fix/time/book/set up/line up/timetable sth for sth
schedule/set/fix/time/book/set up/line up/timetable sb/sth to do sth
schedule/set/fix/time/set up/timetable a meeting
schedule/set/fix/book a time/date/day  
Example Bank:
• The Grand Prix is scheduled to take place on July 4.
• The film is scheduled for release next month.
• The meeting was originally scheduled for March 12.
• Filming is scheduled to begin in May.
• I'll try to schedule you in next week.
• It was originally scheduled for July 16.
• No regular classes were scheduled on Wednesdays.

• We'll be stopping here for longer than scheduled.

schedule

sched·ule AW [schedule schedules scheduled scheduling] noun, verb   [ˈʃedjuːl]    [ˈskedʒuːl] 

noun
1. countable, uncountable a plan that lists all the work that you have to do and when you must do each thing
• I have a hectic schedule for the next few days.
• We're working to a tight schedule (= we have a lot of things to do in a short time).
• Filming began on schedule (= at the planned time).
• The new bridge has been finished two years ahead of schedule.
• The tunnel project has already fallen behind schedule.

• We are trying desperately to keep to our schedule.

2. countable (NAmE) =  timetable
• a train schedule

• Chinese will be on the school schedule from next year.

3. countable a list of the television and radio programmes that are on a particular channel and the times that they start
• The channel's schedules are filled with old films and repeats.

• Channel 4 has published its spring schedules.

4. countable a written list of things, for example prices, rates or conditions
• tax schedules  
Word Origin:
late Middle English (in the sense ‘scroll, explanatory note, appendix’): from Old French cedule, from late Latin schedula ‘slip of paper’, diminutive of scheda, from Greek skhedē ‘papyrus leaf’. The verb dates from the mid 19th cent.  
Thesaurus:
schedule noun C, U
• We're working to a tight schedule.
timetable • • itinerary • • diary • • calendar • • agenda • |BrE programme • |AmE program •
be/put sth in the/your schedule/timetable/itinerary/diary/calendar/programme
on the schedule/timetable/itinerary/calendar/agenda/programme
a busy/full/packed schedule/timetable/diary/calendar/agenda/programme
checl/consult the/your schedule/timetable/diary/calendar
Schedule or timetable? A schedule is usually a plan of what must happen; a timetable is often a plan of what you hope will happen
• work/production schedules
• the government's timetable for the peace talks
 
Which Word?:
agenda / diary / schedule / timetable
A book with a space for each day where you write down things that you have to do in the future is called a diary or a datebook (NAmE) (not an agenda). You may also have a calendar on your desk or hanging up in your room, where you write down your appointments. A diary or a journal is also the record that some people keep of what has happened during the day: ▪ the Diary of Anne Frank.
In BrE your schedule is a plan that lists all the work that you have to do and when you must do each thing and a timetable is a list showing the fixed times at which events will happen: a ▪ bus/train timetable. In NAmE these are both called a schedule. 
Example Bank:
• Allow time in the schedule for sickness.
• At this stage everything is going according to schedule.
• Connor checked the bus schedules for the day.
• I'm trying to fit everything into my busy schedule.
• She has a very demanding schedule.
• The president took time out of his busy schedule to visit our school.
• The project is right on schedule.
• We had to work a lot of overtime to meet the strict production schedule.
• We have a tight schedule to keep.
• We're five days off schedule.
• We're starting to slip behind schedule.
• disruptions to flight schedules caused by the strike
• Filming began on schedule.
• The new bridge has been finished two years ahead of schedule.
• The show trebled ratings for the channel's afternoon schedule.
• The tunnel project has already fallen behind schedule.
• What's your schedule like next semester?
• a bus/flight/train schedule

Derived Word: scheduler 

tartan

tar·tan [tartan tartans]   [ˈtɑːtn]    [ˈtɑːrtn]  noun

1. uncountable, countable a pattern of squares and lines of different colours and widths that cross each other at an angle of 90°, used especially on cloth, and originally from Scotland

• a tartan rug

2. countable a tartan pattern connected with a particular group of families (= a clan ) in Scotland

• the MacLeod tartan

3. uncountable cloth, especially made of wool, that has a tartan pattern
compare  plaid  
Word Origin:
late 15th cent. (originally Scots): perhaps from Old French tertaine, denoting a kind of cloth; compare with tartarin, a rich fabric formerly imported from the east through Tartary, a historical region of Asia and eastern Europe.  
Culture:
tartan
Tartan is a traditional woollen cloth from Scotland that has patterns of squares and lines woven in various colours. Patterns depended originally on dyes available from local plants, so each area developed its own tartan. Tartans were not at first associated with a particular clan. From the late 18th century, Scottish regiments wore different tartans as an identifying feature, and the design of an individual tartan for each clan followed soon afterwards. The most famous tartans include ‘Black Watch’, the tartan of the Royal Highland Regiment, which is black and dark green, and ‘Royal Stuart’, the mainly red tartan of the royal family.
Scotsmen may wear a kilt (= a man’s skirt with pleats that reaches to the knees) and sometimes a plaid (= cloak), or simply a tie, in their clan’s tartan. Apart from those who work in the tourist industry, few Scots wear tartan as part of their ordinary clothing. Men wear kilts when taking part in Scottish dancing displays or for formal occasions such as weddings.

Many Scots consider it wrong to wear the tartan of a clan to which they do not belong, but this has not prevented tartan, or tartan-like patterns, becoming fashionable in Britain and abroad. For some people tartan has romantic associations with Scotland’s history and its wild and beautiful countryside. Women’s kilts, skirts and dresses, as well as scarves, bags, travelling rugs, and many other articles, are made in tartan patterns. Goods sold to tourists, such as tins of shortbread biscuits, are decorated with tartan patterns to indicate their origin.

plaid

plaid [plaid plaids]   [plæd]    [plæd]  noun

1. uncountable a type of thick cloth with a pattern of lines and squares of different colours and widths, especially a tartan pattern

2. countable a long piece of plaid made of wool, worn over the shoulders as part of the Scottish national dress 
Word Origin:
early 16th cent.: from Scottish Gaelic plaide ‘blanket’, of unknown ultimate origin.  
Culture:
tartan
Tartan is a traditional woollen cloth from Scotland that has patterns of squares and lines woven in various colours. Patterns depended originally on dyes available from local plants, so each area developed its own tartan. Tartans were not at first associated with a particular clan. From the late 18th century, Scottish regiments wore different tartans as an identifying feature, and the design of an individual tartan for each clan followed soon afterwards. The most famous tartans include ‘Black Watch’, the tartan of the Royal Highland Regiment, which is black and dark green, and ‘Royal Stuart’, the mainly red tartan of the royal family.
Scotsmen may wear a kilt (= a man’s skirt with pleats that reaches to the knees) and sometimes a plaid (= cloak), or simply a tie, in their clan’s tartan. Apart from those who work in the tourist industry, few Scots wear tartan as part of their ordinary clothing. Men wear kilts when taking part in Scottish dancing displays or for formal occasions such as weddings.

Many Scots consider it wrong to wear the tartan of a clan to which they do not belong, but this has not prevented tartan, or tartan-like patterns, becoming fashionable in Britain and abroad. For some people tartan has romantic associations with Scotland’s history and its wild and beautiful countryside. Women’s kilts, skirts and dresses, as well as scarves, bags, travelling rugs, and many other articles, are made in tartan patterns. Goods sold to tourists, such as tins of shortbread biscuits, are decorated with tartan patterns to indicate their origin.