Fiddle
noun
A string musical instrument, like a small guitar with a bow.
He played a tune on his fiddle.
Often appears as...
- play the fiddle
- fiddle player
verb
To touch or move things around unnecessarily.
Stop fiddling with your hair.
Often appears as...
- fiddle with something
- fiddle around
verb
To dishonestly change numbers or information.
He was caught fiddling the company's accounts.
Often appears as...
- fiddle the accounts
- fiddle the numbers
verb
To spend time doing small things because you have nothing important to do.
I spent the whole afternoon just fiddling around.
Often appears as...
- fiddle around
- fiddle about
Usage tips
Colloquial
noun
Something difficult or complicated to do or use.
I find this new software quite a fiddle to use.
Often appears as...
- quite a fiddle
- a bit of a fiddle
noun
A string musical instrument, like a small guitar with a bow.
He played a tune on his fiddle.
Often appears as...
- play the fiddle
- fiddle player
verb
To touch or move things around unnecessarily.
Stop fiddling with your hair.
Often appears as...
- fiddle with something
- fiddle around
verb
To dishonestly change numbers or information.
He was caught fiddling the company's accounts.
Often appears as...
- fiddle the accounts
- fiddle the numbers
verb
To spend time doing small things because you have nothing important to do.
I spent the whole afternoon just fiddling around.
Often appears as...
- fiddle around
- fiddle about
Usage tips
Colloquial
noun
Something difficult or complicated to do or use.
I find this new software quite a fiddle to use.
Often appears as...
- quite a fiddle
- a bit of a fiddle
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/3Traditional Music
The word 'fiddle' often relates to folk or traditional music rather than classical.
She enjoys Irish fiddle tunes.
Pro Tip 2/3Informal Term
Used informally, 'fiddle' suggests a casual approach compared to 'violin'.
Grab your fiddle and let's jam.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Connection
'Fiddle' can evoke images of community gatherings or informal music settings.
At the barn dance, a trio of fiddles led the melody.
Pro Tip 1/3Traditional Music
The word 'fiddle' often relates to folk or traditional music rather than classical.
She enjoys Irish fiddle tunes.
Pro Tip 2/3Informal Term
Used informally, 'fiddle' suggests a casual approach compared to 'violin'.
Grab your fiddle and let's jam.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Connection
'Fiddle' can evoke images of community gatherings or informal music settings.
At the barn dance, a trio of fiddles led the melody.
Pro Tip 1/3Traditional Music
The word 'fiddle' often relates to folk or traditional music rather than classical.
She enjoys Irish fiddle tunes.
Pro Tip 2/3Informal Term
Used informally, 'fiddle' suggests a casual approach compared to 'violin'.
Grab your fiddle and let's jam.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Connection
'Fiddle' can evoke images of community gatherings or informal music settings.
At the barn dance, a trio of fiddles led the melody.
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Video examples
John Graham-Cumming: The...
I hear it operating. I probably smell it operating." But in between that we're going to do a simulation. Babbage himself wrote, he said, as soon as the analytical engine exists, it will surely guide the future course of science. Of course, he never built it, because he was always fiddling with new plans, but when it did get built, of course,
Video examples
String theory - Brian...
the form of the extra dimensions and the wonderful thing is if those numbers had any other values than the known ones the universe as we know it wouldn't exist this is a deep question why those numbers so finely tuned to allow stars to shine and planets to form when we recognize that if you fiddle with those
Video examples
Changing how we see the...
see any trace of humanity none at all and yet like a microbe we've met that we've managed to make this planet sick you know we've managed to change the chemistry and temperature of the atmosphere and of the sea water and anyone that has an aquarium knows if you fiddle with the temperature you fiddle
Video examples
The greatest machine...
smell it operating and but in between that we're going to do a simulation Babbage himself wrote that he said as soon as the analytical engine exists it will surely guide the future course of science because he never built it because he was always fiddling with new plans but when he did get built of
Video examples
Making sense of string...
And the wonderful thing is, if those numbers had any other values than the known ones, the universe, as we know it, wouldn't exist. This is a deep question. Why are those numbers so finely tuned to allow stars to shine and planets to form, when we recognize that if you fiddle with those numbers --
Video examples
How we explore...
How do the smallest things in nature, the particles of the quantum world, match up with the largest things in nature -- planets and stars and galaxies held together by gravity? As a kid, I would puzzle over questions just like this. I would fiddle around with microscopes and electromagnets,
Video examples
Extreme Dinosaurs PIPE...
this dinosaur but not this one I tried anything I went to a colleague worked on in fib Ian's for this belong to a fish I knew there was a coelacanth and the rivers there and he said no and I said well one day I was watching and studying and fiddling with these bones and all of
Video examples
The ancient, earth-friend...
In fact, I think there's a lot we can learn from ancient Mongolian nomads that will help us survive in the years and decades to come. This is a picture of me playing Mongolia's most celebrated traditional instrument, morin khuur, or horsehead fiddle.
Video examples
This weird trick will...
a master summoner is sending deep croaking noises reverberating through the area. And, as if in a trance, hundreds of earthworms begin emerging from the soil. This is worm grunting, also called worm charming or fiddling.
Video examples
Protecting Leopards From...
little bit awake so don't fiddle with a with a half a white leg but temperature especially if you have to take it so we reached our release site it's a protected area
Video examples
John Graham-Cumming: The...
I hear it operating. I probably smell it operating." But in between that we're going to do a simulation. Babbage himself wrote, he said, as soon as the analytical engine exists, it will surely guide the future course of science. Of course, he never built it, because he was always fiddling with new plans, but when it did get built, of course,
Video examples
String theory - Brian...
the form of the extra dimensions and the wonderful thing is if those numbers had any other values than the known ones the universe as we know it wouldn't exist this is a deep question why those numbers so finely tuned to allow stars to shine and planets to form when we recognize that if you fiddle with those
Video examples
Changing how we see the...
see any trace of humanity none at all and yet like a microbe we've met that we've managed to make this planet sick you know we've managed to change the chemistry and temperature of the atmosphere and of the sea water and anyone that has an aquarium knows if you fiddle with the temperature you fiddle
Video examples
The greatest machine...
smell it operating and but in between that we're going to do a simulation Babbage himself wrote that he said as soon as the analytical engine exists it will surely guide the future course of science because he never built it because he was always fiddling with new plans but when he did get built of
Video examples
Making sense of string...
And the wonderful thing is, if those numbers had any other values than the known ones, the universe, as we know it, wouldn't exist. This is a deep question. Why are those numbers so finely tuned to allow stars to shine and planets to form, when we recognize that if you fiddle with those numbers --
Video examples
How we explore...
How do the smallest things in nature, the particles of the quantum world, match up with the largest things in nature -- planets and stars and galaxies held together by gravity? As a kid, I would puzzle over questions just like this. I would fiddle around with microscopes and electromagnets,
Video examples
Extreme Dinosaurs PIPE...
this dinosaur but not this one I tried anything I went to a colleague worked on in fib Ian's for this belong to a fish I knew there was a coelacanth and the rivers there and he said no and I said well one day I was watching and studying and fiddling with these bones and all of
Video examples
The ancient, earth-friend...
In fact, I think there's a lot we can learn from ancient Mongolian nomads that will help us survive in the years and decades to come. This is a picture of me playing Mongolia's most celebrated traditional instrument, morin khuur, or horsehead fiddle.
Video examples
This weird trick will...
a master summoner is sending deep croaking noises reverberating through the area. And, as if in a trance, hundreds of earthworms begin emerging from the soil. This is worm grunting, also called worm charming or fiddling.
Video examples
Protecting Leopards From...
little bit awake so don't fiddle with a with a half a white leg but temperature especially if you have to take it so we reached our release site it's a protected area
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Rachel Shenton
British Actress
Dad could speak with a strong voice. And luckily, he was very good at lip-reading, so he was able to disguise his deafness well. He tried various hearing aids but would find them fiddly and uncomfortable, and worse, they often made horrible high-pitched noises.
Quote examples
Paul W. S. Anderson
English Director
I can't remember who said, 'No film is completed, just abandoned,' but I think most filmmakers will tell you that they could endlessly fiddle with their films for the next couple of decades, you know, changing things, altering things.
Quote examples
Kyle Lowry
American Athlete
I don't mind being a second fiddle. I don't mind that. I don't care whatever happens, whatever helps my team get a championship is what I want to do. Whatever helps my team win is what I want to do.
Quote examples
Barbara Corcoran
American Businesswoman
When you're a big money earner and your husband isn't, it makes you question how feminine you are. I felt I was less feminine than if I was a supporting wife, or a second fiddle, or 'Mrs. Higgins.
Quote examples
Edward Lear
English Artist
I was much distressed by next door people who had twin babies and played the violin; but one of the twins died, and the other has eaten the fiddle, so all is peace.
Quote examples
Dolly Parton
American Singer
All my momma's people were very musical. My grandpa, who was the Pentecostal minister, he was a great musician. He played the fiddle, he played the piano.
Quote examples
Robin Williams
American Comedian
I'm much more open to being a supporting actor right now. At the age of 60, I'll be second fiddle. Fine. I'm happy to do it.
Quote examples
Jack Markell
American Politician
My focus on the budget, though, has played second fiddle to what I believe is even more important - creating jobs.
Quote examples
Ralph Waldo Emerson
American Philosopher
The age of a woman doesn't mean a thing. The best tunes are played on the oldest fiddles.
Quote examples
Johnny Gimble
American Musician
I still play the fiddle every day. I'm afraid if I don't, it won't know who I am.
Quote examples
Rachel Shenton
British Actress
Dad could speak with a strong voice. And luckily, he was very good at lip-reading, so he was able to disguise his deafness well. He tried various hearing aids but would find them fiddly and uncomfortable, and worse, they often made horrible high-pitched noises.
Quote examples
Paul W. S. Anderson
English Director
I can't remember who said, 'No film is completed, just abandoned,' but I think most filmmakers will tell you that they could endlessly fiddle with their films for the next couple of decades, you know, changing things, altering things.
Quote examples
Kyle Lowry
American Athlete
I don't mind being a second fiddle. I don't mind that. I don't care whatever happens, whatever helps my team get a championship is what I want to do. Whatever helps my team win is what I want to do.
Quote examples
Barbara Corcoran
American Businesswoman
When you're a big money earner and your husband isn't, it makes you question how feminine you are. I felt I was less feminine than if I was a supporting wife, or a second fiddle, or 'Mrs. Higgins.
Quote examples
Edward Lear
English Artist
I was much distressed by next door people who had twin babies and played the violin; but one of the twins died, and the other has eaten the fiddle, so all is peace.
Quote examples
Dolly Parton
American Singer
All my momma's people were very musical. My grandpa, who was the Pentecostal minister, he was a great musician. He played the fiddle, he played the piano.
Quote examples
Robin Williams
American Comedian
I'm much more open to being a supporting actor right now. At the age of 60, I'll be second fiddle. Fine. I'm happy to do it.
Quote examples
Jack Markell
American Politician
My focus on the budget, though, has played second fiddle to what I believe is even more important - creating jobs.
Quote examples
Ralph Waldo Emerson
American Philosopher
The age of a woman doesn't mean a thing. The best tunes are played on the oldest fiddles.
Quote examples
Johnny Gimble
American Musician
I still play the fiddle every day. I'm afraid if I don't, it won't know who I am.
Example 1 of 10
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