fiddle

1 of 2

noun

fid·dle ˈfi-dᵊl How to pronounce fiddle (audio)

: violin

: a device (such as a slat, rack, or light railing) to keep objects from sliding off a table aboard ship

: fiddlesticks

—used as an interjection

[fiddle entry 2] chiefly British : swindle

fiddle

2 of 2

verb

fiddled; fiddling ˈfid-liŋ How to pronounce fiddle (audio)

ˈfi-dᵊl-iŋ

intransitive verb

: to play on a fiddle

: to move the hands or fingers restlessly

: to spend time in aimless or fruitless activity : putter, tinker

fiddled around with the engine for hours

: meddle, tamper

: to make minor manual movements especially to adjust something

fiddled with the radio knobs

transitive verb

: to play (something) on a fiddle

fiddle a tune

: cheat, swindle

: to alter or manipulate deceptively for fraudulent gain

accountants fiddling the books

Stanley Cohen

fiddler

ˈfid-lər

ˈfi-dᵊl-ər

noun

Synonyms

Noun

applesauce [slang]
balderdash
baloney
boloney
beans
bilge
blah
blah-blah
blarney
blather
blatherskite
blither
bosh
bull [slang]
bunk
bunkum
buncombe
claptrap
codswallop [British]
crapola [slang]
crock
drivel
drool
fiddle-faddle
fiddlesticks
flannel [British]
flapdoodle
folderol
falderal
folly
foolishness
fudge
garbage
guff
hogwash
hokeypokey
hokum
hoodoo
hooey
horsefeathers [slang]
humbug
humbuggery
jazz
malarkey
malarky
moonshine
muck
nerts [slang]
nonsense
nuts
piffle
poppycock
punk
rot
rubbish
senselessness
silliness
slush
stupidity
taradiddle
tarradiddle
tommyrot
tosh
trash
trumpery
twaddle

Verb

fidget
jerk
jig
jiggle
squiggle
squirm
thrash
thresh
toss
twist
twitch
wiggle
wriggle
writhe

See all Synonyms & Antonyms

Example Sentences

Noun an expert with the fiddle arrested for a tax fiddle Verb Nero fiddled while Rome burned. the executive fiddled with a pen as she impatiently waited for the meeting to begin

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As Newsom well knows, that’s a load of fiddle-faddle.

Natalie Shure, The New Republic, 31 Aug. 2022 Since its founding in 1988, the Lib Dems have played perpetual third fiddle to the U.K.’s dominant Conservative and Labour parties.

Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2022 Los Angeles Times Love, fiddle-leaf fig, a bustling plant store.

Jonah Valdez, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2022 This mother-daughter duo demands clarity in their romantic relationships in this pop-country track, fueled by irresistible melody, lush family harmonies, and strains of fiddle and steel guitar.

Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 29 July 2022 Giddens, a Grammy-winning composer and multi-instrumentalist whose fiddle and banjo chops broke through as leader of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, is also something of a scholar onstage.

Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 16 July 2022 Kortney Adams, Daniel Berger-Jones, Caroline Lawton and Risher Reddick formed a tight ensemble, each playing multiple roles, with Norwegian folk musician Vidar Skrede adding lovely music on hardanger fiddle and lute.

Elaine Schmidt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2022 Travel back in time at Pioneer Village: Complete with antique tractors, an opry house and a fiddle contest, Pioneer Village will give you the fantasy of being back in the 1800s.

The Indianapolis Star, 2 Aug. 2022 Highlights are an open fiddle jam, dog agility demos, frog-jumping contests.

Susan Dunne, Hartford Courant, 20 July 2022

Verb

After some of her 25 unforced errors, Venus would wince or fiddle with her racket strings or tug on the brim of her visor.

Howard Fendrich, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Aug. 2022 This is one path to the future; another, Glenn Martens’s version, leads out of tumult and into the shady, secluded spot where a designer can fiddle around and daydream.

Maya Singer, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2022 Compared with the convoluted slings that require you to fiddle with yards of fabric and constantly re-tie, this creation was inspired by yoga wear (code for flexible and durable).

Tiffany Leigh, Forbes, 8 June 2022 His hands fiddle with the bottom of his shirt, exposing a soft belly.

Leah Asmelash, CNN, 12 June 2022 Meanwhile, the Internet burns while partisans fiddle.

Jill Goldenziel, Forbes, 18 May 2022 After work, Hernán — who saw three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan during his 15 years of service — and his Marine buddies would deconstruct and fiddle with machines in his garage.

San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2022 The other three here, from Rolex, Tag Heuer and Omega, also stress utility with their prominent crowns and dials that would benefit a wearer too focused on the task at hand to fiddle with their watch.

New York Times, 2 Mar. 2022 Researchers need to fiddle with the amounts or efficiency of the various enzymes engineered into the microbes to optimize the production of carminic acid and reduce the amounts of undesired byproducts.

Brittany J. Miller, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2022 See More

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English fithele, fethill, fydel, going back to Old English *fithele (assumed from the derivative fithelere "fiddler"), going back to Germanic *fiþlō- (whence Middle Dutch vedele "stringed instrument," Old High German fidula, fidala, Old Norse fiðla), perhaps of onomatopoeic origin

Note: See note at viol.

Verb

Middle English fithelyn, fydelin, derivative of fithele, fydel fiddle entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Kids Definition

fiddle 1 of 2

noun

fid·dle ˈfi-dᵊl How to pronounce fiddle (audio)

: violin

fiddle

2 of 2

verb

fiddled; fiddling

: to play on a fiddle

: to move the hands or fingers restlessly

She kept fiddling with her ring.

: to spend time in aimless activity

They fiddled around and accomplished nothing.

: to change or handle in a useless way

He fiddled with the controls.

: to handle in a harmful or foolish way : tamper

Someone has been fiddling with the lock.

单词	fiddles
释义	fiddle 1 of 2 noun fid·dle ˈfi-dᵊl 1 : violin 2 : a device (such as a slat, rack, or light railing) to keep objects from sliding off a table aboard ship 3 : fiddlesticks —used as an interjection 4 [fiddle entry 2] chiefly British : swindle fiddle 2 of 2 verb fiddled; fiddling ˈfid-liŋ ˈfi-dᵊl-iŋ intransitive verb 1 : to play on a fiddle 2 a : to move the hands or fingers restlessly b : to spend time in aimless or fruitless activity : putter, tinker fiddled around with the engine for hours c : meddle, tamper d : to make minor manual movements especially to adjust something fiddled with the radio knobs transitive verb 1 : to play (something) on a fiddle fiddle a tune 2 : cheat, swindle 3 : to alter or manipulate deceptively for fraudulent gain accountants fiddling the books Stanley Cohen fiddler ˈfid-lər ˈfi-dᵊl-ər noun Synonyms Noun applesauce [slang] balderdash baloney boloney beans bilge blah blah-blah blarney blather blatherskite blither bosh bull [slang] bunk bunkum buncombe claptrap codswallop [British] crapola [slang] crock drivel drool fiddle-faddle fiddlesticks flannel [British] flapdoodle folderol falderal folly foolishness fudge garbage guff hogwash hokeypokey hokum hoodoo hooey horsefeathers [slang] humbug humbuggery jazz malarkey malarky moonshine muck nerts [slang] nonsense nuts piffle poppycock punk rot rubbish senselessness silliness slush stupidity taradiddle tarradiddle tommyrot tosh trash trumpery twaddle Verb fidget jerk jig jiggle squiggle squirm thrash thresh toss twist twitch wiggle wriggle writhe See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Noun an expert with the fiddle arrested for a tax fiddle Verb Nero fiddled while Rome burned. the executive fiddled with a pen as she impatiently waited for the meeting to begin Recent Examples on the Web Noun As Newsom well knows, that’s a load of fiddle-faddle. Natalie Shure, The New Republic, 31 Aug. 2022 Since its founding in 1988, the Lib Dems have played perpetual third fiddle to the U.K.’s dominant Conservative and Labour parties. Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2022 Los Angeles Times Love, fiddle-leaf fig, a bustling plant store. Jonah Valdez, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2022 This mother-daughter duo demands clarity in their romantic relationships in this pop-country track, fueled by irresistible melody, lush family harmonies, and strains of fiddle and steel guitar. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 29 July 2022 Giddens, a Grammy-winning composer and multi-instrumentalist whose fiddle and banjo chops broke through as leader of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, is also something of a scholar onstage. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 16 July 2022 Kortney Adams, Daniel Berger-Jones, Caroline Lawton and Risher Reddick formed a tight ensemble, each playing multiple roles, with Norwegian folk musician Vidar Skrede adding lovely music on hardanger fiddle and lute. Elaine Schmidt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2022 Travel back in time at Pioneer Village: Complete with antique tractors, an opry house and a fiddle contest, Pioneer Village will give you the fantasy of being back in the 1800s. The Indianapolis Star, 2 Aug. 2022 Highlights are an open fiddle jam, dog agility demos, frog-jumping contests. Susan Dunne, Hartford Courant, 20 July 2022 Verb After some of her 25 unforced errors, Venus would wince or fiddle with her racket strings or tug on the brim of her visor. Howard Fendrich, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Aug. 2022 This is one path to the future; another, Glenn Martens’s version, leads out of tumult and into the shady, secluded spot where a designer can fiddle around and daydream. Maya Singer, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2022 Compared with the convoluted slings that require you to fiddle with yards of fabric and constantly re-tie, this creation was inspired by yoga wear (code for flexible and durable). Tiffany Leigh, Forbes, 8 June 2022 His hands fiddle with the bottom of his shirt, exposing a soft belly. Leah Asmelash, CNN, 12 June 2022 Meanwhile, the Internet burns while partisans fiddle. Jill Goldenziel, Forbes, 18 May 2022 After work, Hernán — who saw three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan during his 15 years of service — and his Marine buddies would deconstruct and fiddle with machines in his garage. San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2022 The other three here, from Rolex, Tag Heuer and Omega, also stress utility with their prominent crowns and dials that would benefit a wearer too focused on the task at hand to fiddle with their watch. New York Times, 2 Mar. 2022 Researchers need to fiddle with the amounts or efficiency of the various enzymes engineered into the microbes to optimize the production of carminic acid and reduce the amounts of undesired byproducts. Brittany J. Miller, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Noun Middle English fithele, fethill, fydel, going back to Old English fithele (assumed from the derivative fithelere* "fiddler"), going back to Germanic fiþlō- (whence Middle Dutch vedele* "stringed instrument," Old High German fidula, fidala, Old Norse fiðla), perhaps of onomatopoeic origin Note: See note at viol. Verb Middle English fithelyn, fydelin, derivative of fithele, fydel fiddle entry 1 First Known Use Noun 13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb 14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1 Phrases Containing fiddle bass fiddle fiddle around fiddle-faddle fiddle away fiddle with fit as a fiddle play second fiddle second fiddle bull fiddle fiddle about fiddle-footed See More bass fiddle fiddle around fiddle-faddle fiddle away fiddle with fit as a fiddle play second fiddle second fiddle bull fiddle fiddle about fiddle-footed See More Kids Definition fiddle 1 of 2 noun fid·dle ˈfi-dᵊl : violin fiddle 2 of 2 verb fiddled; fiddling 1 : to play on a fiddle 2 : to move the hands or fingers restlessly She kept fiddling with her ring. 3 : to spend time in aimless activity They fiddled around and accomplished nothing. 4 : to change or handle in a useless way He fiddled with the controls. 5 : to handle in a harmful or foolish way : tamper Someone has been fiddling with the lock. fiddles 1 of 2 noun plural of fiddle as in scams chiefly British an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value the e-mail was another one of those fiddles from some supposed Nigerian millionaire seeking to transfer funds out of his country Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance scams frauds swindles hustles devices schemes cons shell games stings tricks fixes jigs hoaxes flimflams buncos crosses bunkos dodges rackets gimmicks pyramid schemes stratagems sleights fakes counterfeits phoneys forgeries wiles phonies ploys thimblerigs three-card montes Ponzi schemes rip-offs shams humbug fiddles 2 of 2 verb present tense third-person singular of fiddle 1 as in fidgets to make jerky or restless movements the executive fiddled with a pen as she impatiently waited for the meeting to begin Synonyms & Similar Words fidgets twitches jerks tosses jigs squirms wiggles twists trembles shakes writhes shivers jiggles quivers squiggles wriggles flits flutters thrashes threshes shudders paces twitters quakes Antonyms & Near Antonyms rests unwinds relaxes calms (down) stills 2 as in plucks to rob by the use of trickery or threats conscienceless grifters who had spent their lives fiddling the naive Synonyms & Similar Words plucks cheats squeezes hustles stings sticks beats screws does diddles tricks swindles gaffs bleeds suckers chisels reams skins deceives rooks shorts stiffs mulcts defrauds cozens fleeces exploits cons rips off fools hoses victimizes shortchanges bilks chouses wrenches nobbles flimflams skunks shakes down euchres betrays thimblerigs takes to the cleaners does in clips extorts sells a bill of goods to takes for a ride nicks gouges wrings milks soaks overcharges wrests gulls dupes bitches double-crosses bamboozles fast-talks ropes (in)
随便看	Tangaridae Tangaroan tangas Tange tanged tangelo tangelos tangemon tangences tangencies tangency tangent tangent arc tangent galvanometer tangent line tangent plane tangent screw tangent sight tangent spoke tangent-cut tangent-saw tangental tangenter tangentest tangential

fiddle

noun

verb

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing fiddle

Kids Definition

noun

verb

noun

verb