farfouiller

Senses

1. 1.

   to rummage, to poke around

   to search haphazardly or carelessly through something

2. 2.

   to fidget, to tinker

   to handle or adjust something aimlessly

Examples

• "Il farfouille dans le tiroir à la recherche de ses clés."

  He's rummaging through the drawer looking for his keys.

• "Arrête de farfouiller avec tes affaires!"

  Stop fiddling around with your stuff!

• "Elle farfouille dans les papiers du bureau depuis une heure."

  She's been poking around in the desk papers for an hour.

Usage

Informal and somewhat pejorative in tone; suggests messy, disorganized searching rather than methodical work. Often used with *dans* (in/through). Common in everyday spoken French.