fiddle

[fid-l]

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.

Nearby words

Idioms

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for fiddled

He fiddled with a baseball once signed by a great Birmingham Barons team of the past.
The Great Paul Hemphill Celebrates the Long Gone Birmingham Barons|Paul Hemphill|March 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As she fiddled with her key in the lock, the Killer opened the door from within.
The Strange and Mysterious Death of Mrs. Jerry Lee Lewis|Richard Ben Cramer|January 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He fiddled on the table with two smartphones and the keys to his Jeep when asked if he had lost friends in Qusayr.
Hanging Out With Hezbollah|Jamie Dettmer|July 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
At least when Nero fiddled, Romans got to hear music over the flames.
As the Sequester Looms, the Outlines of a Solution Emerge|John Avlon|February 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Scripts were scotch-taped to the reverse side of the curtains; jokes were fiddled with or created on the spot.
Dave Barry Lives!|Bryan Curtis|May 4, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Now, as this tower was built in 1210 by Pandolfo della Suburra, the senator, it could not have been the tower Nero fiddled on.
Rambles in Rome|S. Russell Forbes
They were fiddled and danced away for at least twenty-four hours—perhaps for ever!
Vice Versa|F. Anstey
Such a boy as that will be most useful to me in every possible way; and did not you notice how beautifully he fiddled?
Rico and Wiseli|Johanna Spyri
They sat out on the porch and talked of many things while the crickets and katydids chirped and fiddled in the darkness.
The Lucky Seventh|Ralph Henry Barbour
Somehow he had a notion that the faster he fiddled the more quickly the night would pass.
The Tale of Chirpy Cricket|Arthur Scott Bailey

British Dictionary definitions for fiddled

fiddle

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

Word Origin and History for fiddled

fiddle

late 14c., from fiddle (n.); the figurative sense of "to act nervously or idly" is from 1520s. Related: Fiddled; fiddling.

fiddle

late 14c., fedele, earlier fithele, from Old English fiðele, which is related to Old Norse fiðla, Middle Dutch vedele, Dutch vedel, Old High German fidula, German Fiedel; all of uncertain origin.

Perhaps from Medieval Latin vitula "stringed instrument," which is perhaps related to Latin vitularia "celebrate joyfully," from Vitula, Roman goddess of joy and victory, who probably, like her name, originated among the Sabines [Klein, Barnhart]. Unless the Medieval Latin word is from the Germanic ones.

Fiddle has been relegated to colloquial usage by its more proper cousin, violin, a process encouraged by phraseology such as fiddlesticks, contemptuous nonsense word fiddlededee (1784), and fiddle-faddle. Fit as a fiddle is from 1610s.

Culture definitions for fiddled

fiddle

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

Idioms and Phrases with fiddled

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

noun

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

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

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Origin of fiddle

Examples from the Web for fiddled

fiddle

noun

verb

Word Origin for fiddle

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