keep doing nothing but
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- 1 keep doing nothing but、be too absorbed in doing
It describes being so occupied with one activity that something else is neglected or missed.
keep doing nothing but、be too absorbed in doing
It marks an activity that occupies someone’s attention at the expense of another action or responsibility.
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มัวแต่เล่นเกม mua tɛ̀ɛ lên keem keep doing nothing but playing games มัวแต่เล่นเกม details
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Learning notes
Explanation
The usual pattern is มัวแต่ followed by a verb or activity. Here, มัว conveys being preoccupied, while แต่ limits the focus to that one activity. Together they imply that someone keeps doing one thing and consequently neglects, misses, or fails to notice something else. อย่ามัวแต่ followed by a verb is a common way to say “don’t just keep…” or “stop doing nothing but….” A clause with จน can introduce the resulting problem.
Usage
It is common when warning someone who is playing instead of studying, talking without acting, or paying so much attention to a phone that they miss what is happening around them. It can also explain why someone failed to do something else, such as forgetting to eat because they were absorbed in work.
Caution
Here แต่ does not mean “but”; learn มัวแต่ as a unit. It is also not a neutral or positive way to say that someone has recently become interested in a hobby. When directed at another person, it can sound critical or reproachful.
Differences from similar words
1 keep doing nothing but synonyms
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เอาแต่ emphasizes repeatedly choosing to do only one thing and often sounds critical. มัวแต่ focuses more on being preoccupied with that activity and consequently neglecting or failing to notice something else.