Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense twiddles, present participle twiddling, past tense, past participle twiddled
1. verb
If you twiddle something, you twist it or turn it quickly with your fingers.
He twiddled a knob on the dashboard. [VERB noun]
She had sat there twiddling nervously with the clasp of her handbag. [VERB + with]
Synonyms: fiddle with, adjust, finger, play with More Synonyms of twiddle
2. to twiddle your thumbs
twiddle in British English
(ˈtwɪdəl)
verb
1. (whenintr, often foll by with)
to twirl or fiddle (with), often in an idle way
2.
to do nothing; be unoccupied
3. (intransitive)
to turn, twirl, or rotate
4. (intransitive) rare
to be occupied with trifles
noun
5.
an act or instance of twiddling
Derived forms
twiddler (ˈtwiddler)
noun
Word origin
C16: probably a blend of twirl + fiddle
twiddle in American English
(ˈtwɪdəl)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈtwiddled or ˈtwiddling
1.
to twirl or play with lightly or idly
verb intransitive
2.
to toy or trifle with some object
3.
to be busy about trifles
4.
to move in a twirling manner
noun
5.
a light, twirling motion, as with the thumbs
Idioms:
twiddle one's thumbs
Derived forms
twiddler (ˈtwiddler)
noun
twiddly (ˈtwiddly)
adjective
Word origin
prob. < twist or twirl + diddle1
More idioms containing
twiddle
twiddle your thumbs
Examples of 'twiddle' in a sentence
twiddle
There is no point sitting around twiddling your thumbs and hoping things will drop into your lap.
The Sun (2015)
They had to sit twiddling their thumbs for a couple of hours while he pampered himself in his suite.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Sit at home twiddling my thumbs?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But as he tended to the injured, colleagues were left twiddling their thumbs at ambulance depots.
The Sun (2010)
You won't get very far by sitting twiddling your thumbs.
The Sun (2015)
You want to be out there playing, not sitting around twiddling your thumbs.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It's not like we sit around twiddling our thumbs.
The Sun (2011)
All of them have left people very disappointed, sitting there twiddling their thumbs.
The Sun (2015)
Is it within the law to have such worthy but unqualified people in sole control of classes while fully trained teachers sit at home twiddling their thumbs?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
I'm sitting twiddling my thumbs thinking about football all the time.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Traders in Canary Wharf were left twiddling their thumbs as the administrators arrived.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Not that she's sitting around twiddling her thumbs, mind you.
The Sun (2014)
Reo-Coker, one hand constantly twiddling with his mobile phone, says.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
I wanted to sink my teeth into a challenge, not sit around twiddling my thumbs waiting for the next lecture.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
(verb)
Definition
to twirl or fiddle, often in an idle way
He twiddled a knob on the dashboard.
Synonyms
fiddle with
adjust
finger
He fingered the few coins in his pocket.
play with
juggle
wiggle (informal)
She wiggled her fingers to attract his attention.
twirl
She twirled an empty glass in her fingers.
jiggle
He tapped his feet, hummed tunes and jiggled about.
monkey with (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of finger
Definition
to touch or manipulate with the fingers
He fingered the few coins in his pocket.
Synonyms
touch,
feel,
handle,
play with,
manipulate,
paw (informal),
maul,
toy with,
fiddle with (informal),
meddle with,
play about with
in the sense of jiggle
Definition
to move with quick jerky movements
He tapped his feet, hummed tunes and jiggled about.
Synonyms
jerk,
bounce,
jog,
fidget,
shake,
twitch,
wiggle,
jig,
shimmy,
joggle
in the sense of twirl
Definition
to twist, wind, or twiddle, often idly
She twirled an empty glass in her fingers.
Synonyms
twiddle,
turn,
rotate,
wind,
spin,
twist,
revolve,
whirl
Nearby words of
twiddle
twee
twelve
twenty
twiddle
twig
twilight
twin
Synonyms of 'twiddle'
twiddle
Explore 'twiddle' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of wiggle
Definition
to move with jerky movements from side to side or up and down