fiddle
fid|dle /f'ɪdəl/ (fiddles fiddling fiddled)
1 [VERB] V with n
If you fiddle with an object, you keep moving it or touching it with your fingers.
Harriet fiddled with a pen on the desk.
2 [VERB] V with n
If you fiddle with something, you change it in minor ways.
She told Whistler that his portrait of her was finished and to stop fiddling with it.
3 [VERB] V with n
If you fiddle with a machine, you adjust it.
He turned on the radio and fiddled with the knob until he got a talk show.
4 [VERB] V n
If someone fiddles financial documents, they alter them dishonestly so that they get money for themselves. (BRIT INFORMAL)
He's been fiddling the books...
5 [N-VAR] oft the N
Some people call violins fiddles, especially when they are used to play folk music.
Hardy as a young man played the fiddle at local dances.
= violin
6 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
Someone who is as fit as a fiddle is very healthy and full of energy.
I'm as fit as a fiddle-with energy to spare.
7 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft PHR to n
If you play second fiddle to someone, your position is less important than theirs in something that you are doing together.
She hated the thought of playing second fiddle to Rose.fiddle around
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P with n, also V P
If you fiddle around or fiddle about with a machine, you do things to it to try and make it work.
Two of them got out to fiddle around with the engine.
= tinker
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P P n
If you say that someone is fiddling around with or fiddling about with something, you mean that they are changing it in a way that you disapprove of.
Right now in Congress, they're fiddling around with the budget and so on...
1 [VERB] V with n
If you fiddle with an object, you keep moving it or touching it with your fingers.
Harriet fiddled with a pen on the desk.
2 [VERB] V with n
If you fiddle with something, you change it in minor ways.
She told Whistler that his portrait of her was finished and to stop fiddling with it.
3 [VERB] V with n
If you fiddle with a machine, you adjust it.
He turned on the radio and fiddled with the knob until he got a talk show.
4 [VERB] V n
If someone fiddles financial documents, they alter them dishonestly so that they get money for themselves. (BRIT INFORMAL)
He's been fiddling the books...
5 [N-VAR] oft the N
Some people call violins fiddles, especially when they are used to play folk music.
Hardy as a young man played the fiddle at local dances.
= violin
6 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
Someone who is as fit as a fiddle is very healthy and full of energy.
I'm as fit as a fiddle-with energy to spare.
7 [PHRASE] V inflects, oft PHR to n
If you play second fiddle to someone, your position is less important than theirs in something that you are doing together.
She hated the thought of playing second fiddle to Rose.fiddle around
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P with n, also V P
If you fiddle around or fiddle about with a machine, you do things to it to try and make it work.
Two of them got out to fiddle around with the engine.
= tinker
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P P n
If you say that someone is fiddling around with or fiddling about with something, you mean that they are changing it in a way that you disapprove of.
Right now in Congress, they're fiddling around with the budget and so on...