fiddle

[ fid-l ]

/ ˈfɪd l /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: fiddle / fiddling on Thesaurus.com

noun

a musical instrument of the viol family.

violin: Her aunt plays first fiddle with the state symphony orchestra.

Nautical. a small ledge or barrier raised in heavy weather to keep dishes, pots, utensils, etc., from sliding off tables and stoves.

British Informal. swindle; fraud.

verb (used without object), fid·dled, fid·dling.

to play on the fiddle.

to make trifling or fussing movements with the hands (often followed by with): fiddling with his cuffs.

to touch or manipulate something, as to operate or adjust it; tinker (often followed by with): You may have to fiddle with the antenna to get a clear picture on the TV.

to waste time; trifle; dally (often followed by around): Stop fiddling around and get to work.

British Informal. to cheat.

verb (used with object), fid·dled, fid·dling.

to play (a tune) on a fiddle.

to trifle or waste (usually used with away): to fiddle time away.

Bookbinding. to bind together (sections or leaves of a book) by threading a cord through holes cut lengthwise into the back.

British Informal.

to falsify: to fiddle the account books.
to cheat: to fiddle the company out of expense money.

QUIZ

TAKE JOY IN ACING THIS QUIZ ON “PRIDE” SYNONYMS

Hold your head up high as you embark on this quiz that explores some of the synonyms and meanings of “pride.”

Question 1 of 7

What does "dignity" mean?

showing self-respect

treating others with kindness

acting selfishly

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about fiddle

fine as a fiddle, South Midland and Southern U.S. fiddle (def. 15).

fit as a fiddle, in perfect health; very fit: The doctor told him he was fit as a fiddle.Also as fit as a fiddle.

play second fiddle. second fiddle.

Origin of fiddle

before 1000; Middle English; Old English fithele (cognate with German Fiedel,Dutch vedel,Old High German fidula) probably <Vulgar Latin *vītula (cf. viol, viola¹), perhaps derivative of Latin vītulārī to rejoice

Words nearby fiddle

fictitious person, fictive, ficus, fid, Fid. Def., fiddle, fiddleback, fiddleback spider, fiddle bow, fiddle-de-dee, fiddle-faddle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use fiddle in a sentence

Bill had planned to release songs Eva recorded with a fiddle player and that had a western swing feel.
Twenty-five years after her death, Eva Cassidy’s music is as timeless as ever|John Kelly|January 26, 2021|Washington Post
On Wall Street, Bank of America plays a perpetual second fiddle to JPMorgan Chase Co., the only U.S. bank that holds more assets.
Megabanks Have The Federal Prison System Locked Up|Center for Public Integrity|October 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"He looked at it and he started to fiddle with the cable," Mrs. Perez told The Telegraph.
Harry Dances With Chilean Children|Tom Sykes|June 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Willie Polk played the fiddle and another boy, call him Shoefus, played the guitar, like I did.
Stanley Booth on the Life and Hard Times of Blues Genius Furry Lewis|Stanley Booth|June 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST

His dad, an electrical engineer, was always bringing home technology that the young Sapan would fiddle with.
New York’s Hologram King Is Also the City’s Last Pro Holographer|Nina Strochlic|May 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There the lingua franca is Cajun French, and folks love to fiddle, dance and most of all, eat.
The U.S. Road Trips You Should Really Take|Lonely Planet|April 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then he clapped his fiddle under his chin and without more ado struck up "Bobbing Joan."
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
Their jurisdictions overlapped and the Gascon would play second fiddle to no one save to his great brother-in-law.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
A view of the duchess's ball-room, or of the dining-table of the earl, will supersede all occasion for lengthy fiddle-faddle.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
Fiddle-cases seem to have been used almost solely for travelling purposes.
Antonio Stradivari|Horace William Petherick
Then you'll concide that you are there but you oughtn't to be, and kind of slide out without your hat and forget your fiddle.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd

British Dictionary definitions for fiddle

fiddle

/ (ˈfɪdəl) /

noun

informal any instrument of the viol or violin family, esp the violin

a violin played as a folk instrument

time-wasting or trifling behaviour; nonsense; triviality

nautical a small railing around the top of a table to prevent objects from falling off it in bad weather

British informal an illegal or fraudulent transaction or arrangement

British informal a manually delicate or tricky operation

at the fiddle or on the fiddle informal engaged in an illegal or fraudulent undertaking

face as long as a fiddle informal a dismal or gloomy facial expression

fit as a fiddle informal in very good health

play second fiddle informal to be subordinate; play a minor part

verb

to play (a tune) on the fiddle

(intr often foll by with) to make restless or aimless movements with the hands

(when intr, often foll by about or around) informal to spend (time) or act in a careless or inconsequential manner; waste (time)

(often foll by with) informal to tamper or interfere (with)

informal to contrive to do (something) by illicit means or deceptionhe fiddled his way into a position of trust

(tr) informal to falsify (accounts, etc); swindle

Word Origin for fiddle

Old English fithele, probably from Medieval Latin vītula, from Latin vītulārī to celebrate; compare Old High German fidula fiddle; see viola 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for fiddle

fiddle

Another name for the violin; fiddle is the more common term for the instrument as played in folk music and bluegrass.

Other Idioms and Phrases with fiddle

fiddle

In addition to the idiom beginning with fiddle

fiddle while Rome burns

also see:

fit as a fiddle
hang up (one's fiddle)
play second fiddle

fiddle

Idioms about fiddle

Origin of fiddle

Words nearby fiddle

Words related to fiddle

How to use fiddle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fiddle

Word Origin for fiddle

Cultural definitions for fiddle

Other Idioms and Phrases with fiddle