Definition Synonyms
Definition of fiddling - Reverso English Dictionary
Adjective
1.
- They argued over some fiddling details that didn't matter.
2.
- The fiddling details took hours to sort out.
Noun
1.
- He spent the afternoon fiddling with the broken radio.
2.
musicviolin playing, especially in folk music
- Her fiddling at the festival was mesmerizing.
3.
- He was caught fiddling with the company's accounts.
Origin of fiddling
Middle English, fithele (fiddle) + -ing (action)
Examples of fiddling in a sentence
She focused on the fiddling aspects of the plan. The fiddling components were hard to assemble. She struggled with the fiddling parts of the model. She was fiddling with her pen during the lecture. Stop fiddling with your hair and pay attention. His fiddling added charm to the evening.
Fiddling is a key part of their cultural heritage. The investigation uncovered fiddling in the financial reports. Fiddling was suspected when the audit revealed discrepancies.
View all translations of fiddling
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:insignifiant, futilités, ...
- German:unbedeutend, Fummelei, ...
- Italian:irrilevante, compiti banali, ...
- Spanish:insignificante, tonterías, ...
- Portuguese:insignificante, mexericos, ...
- Chinese:无关紧要的, 琐事, ...
- Japanese:些細な, 些細な作業, ...
- Arabic:تافِه, أعمال تافهة, ...
- Hebrew:שׁוּלִי, הִתְעַסְּקוּת, ...
- Russian:пустячный, мелкие дела, ...
- Ukrainian:незначний, дрібні справи, ...
- Hindi:तुच्छ, जोड़तोड़, ...
Definition of fiddle - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
- He fiddled with his pen during the meeting.
2.
- He likes to fiddle with old radios in his spare time.
3.
musictr./intr. play a violin in a lively folk styletr./intr.
- She loves to fiddle at local folk festivals.
4.
- They fiddled the accounts to hide the losses.
Noun
1.
musicviolin used in folk music
- She played a lively tune on her fiddle.
2.
- He was caught in a tax fiddle.
3.
maritimesmall railing to prevent objects from falling
- The table had a fiddle to keep dishes secure.
Images of fiddle

violin used in folk music 
small railing to prevent objects from falling
Expressions with fiddle
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
manipulate an object in a nervous manner
She fiddled with her pen during the interview.
waste time doing unimportant things
He fiddled about instead of starting his work.
spend time doing unimportant things
He likes to fiddle around instead of working.
waste time or money on unimportant things
He tends to fiddle away his weekends on video games.
make small adjustments without a clear goal
She fiddled around with the radio until it worked.
alter financial records to hide fraud or theft
The accountant was caught trying to fiddle the books.
change numbers to deceive or mislead others
The accountant tried to fiddle the figures to hide losses.
in excellent health or condition
After the surgery, he felt fine as a fiddle.
in excellent condition or working order
The old car is still fit as a fiddle.
take the most prominent role
In the new film, he plays first fiddle as the main character.
take a less important role to someone
She always plays second fiddle to her boss.
manipulate someone skillfully without their awareness
She played her boss like a fiddle.
role of lesser importance or status
He felt unhappy playing second fiddle to his more successful sibling.
alter expense records dishonestly for personal gain
He was caught trying to fiddle expenses at work.
do unimportant things while a big problem happens
He fiddled while Rome burned during the company crisis.
person taking a leading role
In the project, she was the first fiddle.
acting in a dishonest way with money
He was caught acting on the fiddle at work.
manipulate or control someone completely and skillfully
She played Mark like a bass fiddle.
perform music on a fiddle
She loves to play the fiddle at family gatherings.
largest and lowest instrument in the violin family
He played the bass fiddle in the orchestra.
shaped like a fiddle
The fiddle-shaped leaves were unique to that plant species.
be less important than someone else
She always felt she played second fiddle to her older sister.
expression showing sadness or disappointment
He came home with a face as long as a fiddle after the bad news.
scheme to avoid paying full taxes
The company was involved in a tax fiddle for years.
Origin of fiddle
Old English, fithele (fiddle)
Examples of fiddle in a sentence
He fiddled with the radio knobs absentmindedly. She fiddled with the settings until the picture was clear. They often fiddle with the engine to improve performance. He learned to fiddle from his grandfather. They would fiddle together every Sunday afternoon. The broker fiddled investors out of their savings.
He was jailed for fiddling the insurance claim. The fiddle added a rustic charm to the band. He bought a new fiddle for the folk festival. The insurance fiddle cost the company millions. He was involved in a financial fiddle at work. The ship's galley had a fiddle to keep utensils from sliding. Books stayed in place on the shelf thanks to the fiddle.
View all translations of fiddle
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:tripoter, violon, ...
- German:herumspielen, Geige, ...
- Italian:giocherellare, violino, ...
- Spanish:juguetear, violín, ...
- Portuguese:mexer, violino, ...
- Chinese:摆弄, 小提琴, ...
- Japanese:いじる, フィドル, ...
- Arabic:عَبَثَ, كمان, ...
- Hebrew:לְשַׂחֵק, כִּנּוֹר עַמָּמִי, ...
- Russian:вертеть, скрипка, ...
- Ukrainian:бавитися, скрипка, ...
- Hindi:छेड़छाड़ करना, वायलिन, ...
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