If you ~ or wait about, you stay in the same place, usually doing very little, because you cannot act before something happens or before someone arrives. (in BRIT, also use wait about )
The attacker may have been waiting around for an opportunity to strike...
I waited around to speak to the doctor.
...the ghastly tedium of waiting about at the airport.
PHRASAL VERB: V P for n, V P to-inf, V P