fiddle

/'fidl/
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fiddle

A musician plays a lively tune on a fiddle at a folk festival.

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.
fiddle

A musician plays a lively tune on a fiddle at a folk festival.

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

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