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🕵️ To cheat ⏳ To waste time ✋ To fiddle
to diddle

to diddle

1 8.6
To play with something in your hands without thinking
  • verb
  • /ˈdɪdəl/
  • Informal
translation icon : manipular
  • She diddled with the toy, spinning its wheels absent-mindedly while watching TV.
  • diddle around

Examples

  • We took away that Ontap gesture down here that was just diddling with the at time state.

  • I was still diddling with that nonplus when my phone rang again.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • - Can you diddle that thing?

    The Rose (1979)

  • But I I just did a little twist, little diddle braid, put it in the center like that.

  • Listen... I'm quite fed up with you... Diddling with your little rat dog there... And running your mouth all over my woman.

    A Rage in Harlem (1991)

  • Although Lincoln's distorted version makes for a good story, he should not diddle with the facts, if only out of respect for the guard.

    Blog text (34)

  • I said it had been pleasant and diddled with some papers before I let myself ask casually, "Did I get any calls?"

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Every Denverite spends Sunday afternoon sitting in traffic on the way back from Breck, diddling with their iPhone.

    Blog text (16)

  • As he waited for the meeting to start, he diddled with his pen, tapping it on the table.

  • He often found himself diddling with his phone instead of focusing on his work.

Synonyms

to toy
vsto diddle
67 5.5

To handle something in a playful, not serious way

is absent-minded or purposeless handling rather than playful consideration
to fiddle
vsto diddle
  • Informal
41 4.7

To touch or move something without a clear purpose

focuses on absent-minded purposeless handling rather than experimental adjustment
to fiddle with
vsto diddle
32 3.9

To touch or move something nervously without thinking

is more absent-minded in action rather than nervous or restless
to twiddle
vsto diddle
8 5.5

To move a small thing back and forth with your fingers, often when nervous

is general handling not limited to fingers or repeated motion
to pull about
vsto diddle
  • UK
5.5

To drive or move something around without a clear purpose

is casual, aimless handling rather than deliberate directional movement

How Purposeful

to manipulate
36 4.2
to handle
328 1.0
to play around
  • Informal
47 3.4
to diddle
  • Informal
1 8.6
to fidget
26 3.4

Surface Forms

diddle infinitive
diddled past
diddled past participle
diddling present participle
diddles third person singular

Etymology

Diddle meaning 'to move or handle something absent-mindedly' is like the word fiddle, which means 'to touch or play with' small things. So, to diddle with a pen is to fidget with it without thinking.