fiddle
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fid·dle
(fĭd′l)n.
1. A violin, especially one used to play folk or country music.
2. Nautical A guardrail used on a table during rough weather to prevent things from slipping off.
3. Informal Nonsensical, trifling matters: "There are things that are important / beyond all this fiddle" (Marianne Moore).
4. Chiefly British An instance of cheating or swindling; a fraud.
v. fid·dled, fid·dling, fid·dles
v.intr.
1. To play a fiddle.
2. To touch or handle something in a nervous way: fiddled with the collar of his shirt as he spoke.
3. To make unskilled efforts at repairing or improving: fiddled with the broken toaster.
4. To meddle or tamper: a reporter who fiddled with the facts.
5. Chiefly British To commit a fraud, especially to steal from one's employer.
v.tr.
Phrasal Verbs: 1. To play (a tune) on a fiddle.
2. Chiefly British To alter or falsify for dishonest gain: fiddled the figures in the report.
fiddle around
To act foolishly, playfully, or without a clear sense of purpose: Quit fiddling around and get to work!
fiddle away
To waste or squander: fiddled away the morning browsing the internet.
[Middle English fidle, from Old English fithele.]
fid′dler n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
fiddle
(ˈfɪdəl)n
1. informal any instrument of the viol or violin family, esp the violin
2. (Instruments) a violin played as a folk instrument
3. time-wasting or trifling behaviour; nonsense; triviality
4. (Nautical Terms) nautical a small railing around the top of a table to prevent objects from falling off it in bad weather
5. informal Brit an illegal or fraudulent transaction or arrangement
6. informal Brit a manually delicate or tricky operation
7. at the fiddle on the fiddle informal engaged in an illegal or fraudulent undertaking
8. face as long as a fiddle informal a dismal or gloomy facial expression
9. fit as a fiddle informal in very good health
10. play second fiddle informal to be subordinate; play a minor part
vb
11. (Music, other) to play (a tune) on the fiddle
12. (often foll by: with) to make restless or aimless movements with the hands
13. informal (when: intr, often foll by about or around) to spend (time) or act in a careless or inconsequential manner; waste (time)
14. (often foll by with) informal to tamper or interfere (with)
15. informal to contrive to do (something) by illicit means or deception: he fiddled his way into a position of trust.
16. (tr) informal to falsify (accounts, etc); swindle
[Old English fithele, probably from Medieval Latin vītula, from Latin vītulārī to celebrate; compare Old High German fidula fiddle; see viola1]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
fid•dle
(ˈfɪd l)n., v. -dled, -dling. n.
1. a musical instrument of the viol family.
2. violin.
3. a barrier to keep dishes, pots, utensils, etc., from sliding off a ship's table.
4. Informal. a swindle; fraud.
v.i. 5. to play the fiddle.
6. to make fussing movements with the hands (often fol. by with).
7. to manipulate something; tinker (often fol. by with).
8. to waste time; dally (often fol. by around).
9. to cheat.
v.t. 10. to play (a tune) on a fiddle.
11. to trifle or waste (usu. used with away): to fiddle time away.
12. Informal.
Idioms: a. to falsify (accounts).
b. to contrive by cheating.
(as) fit as a fiddle, in perfect health.
[before 1000; Middle English; Old English fithele]
fid′dler, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
See also related terms for violin.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
fiddle
Past participle: fiddled
Gerund: fiddling
| Imperative |
|---|
| fiddle |
| fiddle |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  fiddle - bowed stringed instrument that is the highest member of the violin family; this instrument has four strings and a hollow body and an unfretted fingerboard and is played with a bowAmati - a violin made by Nicolo Amati or a member of his family bowed stringed instrument, string - stringed instruments that are played with a bow; "the strings played superlatively well" chin rest - a rest on which a violinist can place the chin fiddlestick, violin bow - a bow used in playing the violin Guarnerius - a violin made by a member of the Guarneri family Strad, Stradavarius - a violin made by Antonio Stradivari or a member of his family |
| Verb | 1. | fiddle - avoid (one's assigned duties); "The derelict soldier shirked his duties" avoid - refrain from doing something; "She refrains from calling her therapist too often"; "He should avoid publishing his wife's memories" scrimshank - British military language: avoid work slack - avoid responsibilities and work, be idle |
| 2. | fiddle - commit fraud and steal from one's employer; "We found out that she had been fiddling for years" defalcate, embezzle, malversate, misappropriate, peculate - appropriate (as property entrusted to one's care) fraudulently to one's own use; "The accountant embezzled thousands of dollars while working for the wealthy family" | |
| 3. | fiddle - play the violin or fiddle music - musical activity (singing or whistling etc.); "his music was his central interest" fiddle - play on a violin; "Zuckerman fiddled that song very nicely" play - perform music on (a musical instrument); "He plays the flute"; "Can you play on this old recorder?" | |
| 4. | fiddle - play on a violin; "Zuckerman fiddled that song very nicely" music - an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner spiel, play - replay (as a melody); "Play it again, Sam"; "She played the third movement very beautifully" fiddle - play the violin or fiddle | |
| 5. |  fiddle - manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination; "She played nervously with her wedding ring"; "Don't fiddle with the screws"; "He played with the idea of running for the Senate"manipulate - hold something in one's hands and move it | |
| 6. |  fiddle - play around with or alter or falsify, usually secretively or dishonestly; "Someone tampered with the documents on my desk"; "The reporter fiddle with the facts"manipulate - hold something in one's hands and move it | |
| 7. | fiddle - try to fix or mend; "Can you tinker with the T.V. set--it's not working right"; "She always fiddles with her van on the weekend" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
fiddle
verb
1. (usually with with) fidget, play, finger, toy, tamper, trifle, mess about or around She fiddled with a pen on the desk.
noun
1. (Brit. informal) fraud, racket, scam (slang), piece of sharp practice, fix, sting (informal), graft (informal), swindle, wangle (informal) legitimate businesses that act as a cover for tax fiddles
2. violin He played the fiddle at local dances.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
fiddle
verb1. To move one's fingers or hands in a nervous or aimless fashion:
fiddle away
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
fiddle
[ˈfɪdl]A. N
1. (= violin) → violín m
to play second fiddle → desempeñar un papel secundario
to play second fiddle to sb → estar a la sombra de algn
he's fed up with playing second fiddle to his older brother → está harto de estar a la sombra de su hermano mayor
to play second fiddle → desempeñar un papel secundario
to play second fiddle to sb → estar a la sombra de algn
he's fed up with playing second fiddle to his older brother → está harto de estar a la sombra de su hermano mayor
2. (esp Brit) (= cheat) → trampa f, superchería f
it's a fiddle → aquí hay trampa
tax fiddle → evasión f fiscal
to work a fiddle → hacer trampa
to be on the fiddle → dedicarse a hacer chanchullos
it's a fiddle → aquí hay trampa
tax fiddle → evasión f fiscal
to work a fiddle → hacer trampa
to be on the fiddle → dedicarse a hacer chanchullos
B. VI
1. (Mus) → tocar el violín
to fiddle while Rome burns → perder el tiempo con nimiedades e ignorar el verdadero problema
to fiddle while Rome burns → perder el tiempo con nimiedades e ignorar el verdadero problema
2. (= fidget) → enredar
do stop fiddling! → ¡deja ya de enredar!
to fiddle (about or around) with sth → enredar or juguetear con algo
someone has been fiddling (about or around) with it → alguien lo ha estropeado, alguien ha estado enredando con él
do stop fiddling! → ¡deja ya de enredar!
to fiddle (about or around) with sth → enredar or juguetear con algo
someone has been fiddling (about or around) with it → alguien lo ha estropeado, alguien ha estado enredando con él
3. (esp Brit) (= cheat) → hacer trampas
C. VT (esp Brit) [+ accounts, results, expenses claim etc] → manipular
to fiddle one's income tax → defraudar impuestos
to fiddle one's income tax → defraudar impuestos
fiddle about fiddle around VI + ADV → perder el tiempo
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
fiddle
(ˈfidl) noun1. a violin. She played the fiddle.violín
verb1. to play a violin. He fiddled while they danced. tocar el violín
2. (with with) to make restless, aimless movements. Stop fiddling with your pencil!juguetear
3. to manage (money, accounts etc) dishonestly. She has been fiddling the accounts for years.falsificar, amañar, manipular
ˈfiddler nounfiddler crabon the fiddle dishonest. He's always on the fiddle.hacer trampas
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.