fiddle-faddle
Americannoun
-
something trivial.
verb (used without object)
interjection
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of fiddle-faddle
First recorded in 1570–80; gradational compound based on fiddle
Explanation
Fiddle-faddle is silly, insignificant nonsense. Fiddle-faddle doesn't amount to much. Fiddle-faddle usually refers to nonsense that is particularly insubstantial: trivial stuff that means little. If you're trying to discuss something serious, and someone makes an irrelevant point, you could say "That's fiddle-faddle!" This is a reduplicative word — like hocus pocus and higgledy-piggledy — which means most of the word repeats. Lots of reduplicative words mean nonsense, such as mumbo-jumbo and jibber-jabber.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Huston soon puts a stop to this sort of fiddle-faddle.
From Time Magazine Archive
Beyond that, the system is mired in bureaucratic inertia and fiddle-faddle.
From Time Magazine Archive
Vocalist Waters and a gifted arrangement turn a ballad hitherto sung as funny fiddle-faddle into a tragic folk tale, with much the same quality found in Artist Thomas Benton's garish Frankie & Johnnie mural.
From Time Magazine Archive
“I’ll bet you my whole store it’s a matter of time before everyone starts buying cheap fiddle-faddle from SmartMart rather than paying a little more for something from their own neighbors.”
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
The answer came with the low, drawling laugh of Stud Bennett, otherwise Studart, brother to Jessie, the “merle’s” calling mate, who was himself playing fiddle-faddle in the sunshine, after a four-mile hike.
From Pemrose Lorry, Camp Fire Girl by Hornibrook, Isabel Katherine
He acknowledges the time wasted "fiddle-faddling" and, with pathetic bravery, declares that he "will not cling to her falsely."
From The Guardian ● Aug. 29, 2011
Don't fancy I am asking you to go fiddle-faddling about my wife again: I don't see how you can do that, after the way she has used you!
From Mary Marston by MacDonald, George
I am idly fiddle-faddling with a piece of work, and Roger—is it possible?—is stretching out his hand toward a book.
From Nancy by Broughton, Rhoda
Ye gods, and when it was flowing, Pitiful fool that I was, to stand fiddle-faddling in that way!
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 01, No. 07, May, 1858 by Various
Ye gods, and when it was flowing, Pitiful fool that I was, to stand fiddle-faddling in that way!
From Amours De Voyage by Clough, Arthur Hugh
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
