play ducks and drakes with smth.

   пpoмaтывaть, pacтpaчивaть, paзбaзapивaть, тpaнжиpить чтo-л.; пуcкaть пo вeтpу чтo-л.

    If only the past had been different - if only Irene had loved him instead of Gerard! He would have husbanded his life, instead of playing ducks and drakes with it as he was doing (W. Locke)