fiddle

/'fidl/

Friendly

The word "fiddle" can be understood in several ways, as it serves as both a noun and a verb. Let’s break it down for you.

As a Noun:

1. Definition: A "fiddle" is a type of musical instrument. Specifically, it is a bowed string instrument that belongs to the violin family. It has four strings, a hollow body, and is played with a bow.
2. Usage: You can say, "She plays the fiddle beautifully."
3. Example: "The fiddler at the festival played traditional folk music."

As a Verb:

1. Definition: To "fiddle" means to try to fix or mend something, often in a casual or careless way. It can also mean to play around with something, manipulate it secretly, or even alter facts.
2. Usage: You might say, "He fiddled with the radio until it worked."
3. Examples:
   • "Can you fiddle with the TV set? It’s not working right."
   • "She fiddled with her ring when she was nervous."
   • "Someone tampered with the documents on my desk."

Advanced Usage:

• To Fiddle with: This phrase means to manipulate or change something, often without a clear purpose. For example, "He fiddled with the settings of his camera until he got the perfect shot."
• Fiddling the Facts: This means to alter information dishonestly. An example could be, "The reporter was accused of fiddling with the facts in his article."

Word Variants:

• Fiddler (noun): A person who plays the fiddle.
  • Example: "The fiddler entertained the crowd with lively tunes."
• Fiddling (adjective): Used to describe something that is trivial or of little importance.
  • Example: "He wasted his time on fiddling details instead of focusing on the main project."

Different Meanings:

• Casual Usage: "Fiddling" can mean to waste time with trivial matters.
• Fraudulent Usage: In a business context, to "fiddle" can mean to commit fraud or steal from one’s employer. Example: "We found out that she had been fiddling for years."

Synonyms:

• For the noun: Violin, string instrument.
• For the verb: Tinker, tamper, manipulate, play around with.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• Fiddle while Rome burns: This idiom means to occupy oneself with unimportant matters while ignoring serious issues.
• Fiddle with: As mentioned, this means to adjust or tamper with something.

Summary:

"Fiddle" is a versatile word that can refer to a musical instrument or describe a range of behaviors from casual tinkering to dishonest manipulation.

Academic

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

Synonyms

• violin
• tinker
• tamper
• monkey
• toy
• diddle
• play
• shirk
• shrink from
• goldbrick