Definition

1. Noun:

   • A violin, especially when used to play folk music: A stringed musical instrument played with a bow, typically smaller than a standard violin and associated with folk or traditional music.
   • (Informal) A swindle or fraud: A dishonest act or scheme.

2. Verb:

   • To play the fiddle: To play the violin, especially in a folk or informal style.
   • To fidget or tinker with something in a restless or aimless way: To handle or adjust something repeatedly, often without a clear purpose.
   • To falsify or tamper with something dishonestly: To alter accounts, records, or facts for fraudulent purposes.
   • To avoid one's duties; to shirk: To evade or neglect assigned work or responsibilities.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • He played a lively tune on his fiddle.
  • The whole deal was a complete fiddle.

• Verb:

  • She learned to fiddle at a young age.
  • Stop fiddling with the remote control!
  • He was caught fiddling the company's accounts.
  • She spent the afternoon fiddling instead of doing her homework.

Advanced Usage

• "to be on the fiddle": To be engaged in a dishonest or fraudulent activity.

  • Rumors suggested the manager was on the fiddle.

• "to fiddle while Rome burns": To be occupied with trivial matters during a crisis (from the legend of Emperor Nero playing the lyre while Rome burned).

  • The politicians are accused of fiddling while Rome burns as the crisis deepens.

Variants and Related Words

• Fiddler (n): A person who plays the fiddle; (informally) a person who commits fraud.

  • The band featured an excellent fiddler.

• Fiddly (adj): Annoyingly complicated or detailed; requiring delicate handling.

  • Replacing the tiny battery is a fiddly job.

Synonyms

• Noun (instrument): Violin.
• Verb (tamper): Tamper, falsify, manipulate.
• Verb (fidget): Tinker, toy, fidget.
• Verb (shirk): Avoid, shirk, dodge.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Fiddle about/around: To waste time or act aimlessly.

  • He spent the morning fiddling about in the garage.

• Fiddle with: To keep touching or adjusting something nervously or idly.

  • She fiddled with her pen during the interview.

Related Idioms

• Fit as a fiddle: In very good health.

  • After his holiday, he felt fit as a fiddle.

• Play second fiddle (to someone/something): To be in a subordinate or less important position.

  • He was tired of playing second fiddle to his more famous colleague.

Noun

1. 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 bow

Verb

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. play on a violin
   • Zuckerman fiddled that song very nicely
5. play the violin or fiddle
6. commit fraud and steal from one's employer
   • We found out that she had been fiddling for years
7. avoid (one's assigned duties)
   • The derelict soldier shirked his duties