fiddle

Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).

Synonyms: riddle, diddle, piddle, fuddle, middle, tiddle, siddle, feddle, hiddle, widdle, kiddle

Antonyms: riddle, diddle, piddle, fuddle, middle, tiddle, siddle, feddle, hiddle, widdle, kiddle

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Noun

1. A [[violin]], a [[small]] [[unfretted]] [[stringed instrument]] with [[four]] [[string]]s [[tune]]d ([[lowest]] to [[highest]]) [[G]]-[[D]]-[[A]]-[[E]], [[usually]] [[held]] against the [[chin]], [[shoulder]], [[chest]] or on the upper [[thigh]] and [[played]] with a [[bow]] (see also usage notes below).
2. {{lb|en|usually|_|proscribed}} Any of various other [[bowed]] [[stringed instrument]]s, particularly those of the violin family when played non-classically.
3. A [[violinist]], or [[fiddler]], in a [[band]].
4. [[something|Something]] [[resembling]] a [[violin]], or fiddle, in [[shape]], [[particularly]]:
5. {{lb|en|figurative}} A [[clown]]; an [[unserious]] [[person]] [[entertain]]ing a [[group]].
6. {{lb|en|figurative}} [[unskillful|Unskillful]] or [[unartful]] [[behavior]], [[particularly]] when [[showy]] and [[superficially]] [[pleasing]].
7. {{lb|en|especially|nautical}} [[any|Any]] [[rail]] or [[device]] that [[prevent]]s [[item]]s from [[sliding]] off a [[table]], [[stove]], etc. in [[rough]] [[water]].
8. {{lb|en|UK|_|slang|obsolete}} An [[arrest warrant]].
9. {{lb|en|UK|_|slang|obsolete}} A [[watchman's rattle]].
10. {{lb|en|UK|_|slang|obsolete}} A [[trifling]] [[amount]].

Verb

1. {{lb|en|intransitive}} To [[play]] the [[#Noun|fiddle]] or [[violin]], [[particularly]] in a [[folk music|folk]] or [[country music|country]] [[style]].
2. {{lb|en|informal|transitive}} To fraudulently manipulate (records, accounts, etc.) in order to [[cheat]] or [[swindle]].
3. {{lb|en|intransitive}} To [[fidget]] or [[play]]; to fuss; to [[idly]] [[amuse]] [[oneself]], to [[act]] [[aimlessly]], [[idly]], or [[frivolously]], [[particularly]] out of [[nervousness]] or [[restlessness]]; ''see also'' '''[[fiddle with]]'''.
4. {{senseid|en|sort out by tinkering}} {{lb|en|informal|intransitive}} {{synonym of|en|tinker||to [[make]] [[small]] [[adjustment]]s or [[improvement]]s}}; ''see also'' '''[[fiddle with]]'''.
5. {{lb|en|intransitive|UK|slang|obsolete}} To do [[odd job]]s for [[money]].

Interjection

1. {{synonym of|en|fiddlesticks}} or [[euphemism]] for ''[[fuck]]''.

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.