tidy one's sock drawer

tidy one's sock drawer (third-person singular simple present tidies one's sock drawer, present participle tidying one's sock drawer, simple past and past participle tidied one's sock drawer)

1. To do, or supposedly do, a mundane and unimportant activity as an excuse to avoid something onerous or unappealing.

   My tax return has to be completed today, but I feel a sudden urge to tidy my sock drawer.

   That guy at work asked me to a party on Saturday, but I think I'm tidying my sock drawer that night.