twiddle

[twid-l]

verb (used with object)

twiddled, twiddling 

1. to turn about or play with lightly or idly, especially with the fingers; twirl.

verb (used without object)

twiddled, twiddling 

1. to play or trifle idly with something; fiddle.

2. to turn about lightly; twirl.

noun

1. the act of twiddling; turn; twirl.

twiddle

/ ˈtwɪdəl /

verb

1. to twirl or fiddle (with), often in an idle way

2. to do nothing; be unoccupied

3. (intr) to turn, twirl, or rotate

4. rare,  (intr) to be occupied with trifles

noun

1. an act or instance of twiddling

Other Word Forms

• twiddler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of twiddle¹

1530–40; perhaps blend of twitch and fiddle

Word History and Origins

Origin of twiddle¹

C16: probably a blend of _twirl + _fiddle

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. twiddle one's thumbs, to do nothing; be idle.

   Business was slack, and the salespeople were twiddling their thumbs.

Example Sentences

He first became familiar with them when he was sitting on a bus shortly after his release and saw people twiddling with smartphones.

Read more on BBC

You could follow the text at the bottom of the screen, but most people just twiddled their thumbs and waited.

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"Now we can stay until 4pm twiddling our thumbs, without fish."

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"The world is watching while American lawmakers twiddle their thumbs," he added.

Read more on Salon

Kudos to them, too, for re-energizing voters while so many forlorn Democratic leaders twiddle their thumbs and nurse the hangover of defeat.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fidget