водити козу

Literally, “to lead a goat”. This expression comes from an old New Year custom associated with carolling and Shchedryi Vechir (Ще́дрий ве́чір (Ščédryj véčir)), where one performer dressed up as a goat that "died" and "rose back to life" to represent fertility and abundance to households the dancers visit. To other observers, this dance appeared noisy, unruly, and drunk, making this expression become associated with wasting time.

• IPA^(key): [wɔˈdɪte koˈzu]

води́ти козу́ • (vodýty kozú) impf (idiomatic)

1. to find somewhere to get drunk
2. to keep doing something without real results; to mess around

   Що ви там робите вже другу годину? Та ми козу водимо. ― Ščo vy tam robyte vže druhu hodynu? Ta my kozu vodymo. ― What have you been doing there for two hours? We were messing around.