fiddle-faddle
[ fid-l-fad-l ]
/ ˈfɪd lˌfæd l /
noun
something trivial.
verb (used without object), fid·dle-fad·dled, fid·dle-fad·dling.
to fuss with trifles.
interjection
(used to express irritation, impatience, etc.)
QUIZZES
DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!
It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “vacillate” mean?
Origin of fiddle-faddle
First recorded in 1570–80; gradational compound based on fiddle
OTHER WORDS FROM fiddle-faddle
fiddle-faddler, nounWords nearby fiddle-faddle
fiddle, fiddleback, fiddleback spider, fiddle bow, fiddle-de-dee, fiddle-faddle, fiddle-footed, fiddlehead, fiddle pattern, fiddler, fiddler beetle
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for fiddle-faddle
British Dictionary definitions for fiddle-faddle
fiddle-faddle
/ (ˈfɪdəlˌfædəl) /
noun, interjection
trivial matter; nonsense
verb
(intr) to fuss or waste time, esp over trivial matters
Derived forms of fiddle-faddle
fiddle-faddler, nounWord Origin for fiddle-faddle
C16: reduplication of fiddle
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