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Glite Dictionary
🎻 A violin 🤏 To fidget 😴 To avoid work 🕵️ To cheat 🎻 To play violin
to fiddle

to fiddle

2 4.2
To play the violin in a lively way
  • verb
  • /ˈfɪdəl/
translation icon : tocar el violín
  • The way I figure, Ed's better at the jigging and Tod can sure fiddle a square.
  • fiddle a tune
  • fiddle at dances

Examples

  • At dinner time in the back room of the local inn, two musicians fiddle songs of heartbreak.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • When Stobrod struck a bow to fiddle strings, the Pangle boy sometimes tried to sing along, but he had a voice like blowing a duck call.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • If I knew how to play the violin, I would spend my afternoons fiddling.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • What Irish lad could sit while the fiddlers are fiddling... ...the pipes are piping, the women are smiling like it's a wedding.

    Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949)

  • His violin was repaired: the expert who fixed it was named Alfred von Kluck, a stranded Prussian whose two great passions in life were fiddling.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • At Solomon's palace, extras in Swedish folk costumes dance the hambo, again to fiddle accompaniment, a transformation to Swedish circumstances that approximates the technique of the dalmalningar.

    Academic text (1998)

  • At the lively festival, musicians gather to fiddle joyful tunes that get everyone dancing.

  • She loves to fiddle with her violin while sitting on the porch during summer evenings.

  • During the party, the band began to fiddle up-tempo music that energized the crowd.

Synonyms

to bow
vsto fiddle
12 7.7

To play a string instrument using a curved stick with tight hairs

focuses on a particular instrument and a lively, informal playing style

Idioms

second fiddle
  • Informal
8 6.0

A person who has a less important role and helps someone more important

fit as a fiddle
  • Informal
6 4.2

In very good health and full of energy

to play first fiddle
  • Informal
1 7.3

To lead a group or activity as the most important person

face like a fiddle
  • UK
9.3

A face that looks healthy and young

to hang up one's fiddle
  • Archaic
9.6

To stop doing an activity, especially to stop playing music for good

Phrasal Verbs

to fiddle with
32 3.9

To touch or move something nervously without thinking

Compounds

bass fiddle
  • Specialized
1 4.7

A very large violin that makes very low sounds

fiddle-faddle
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Silly, unimportant talk that wastes time

bull fiddle
  • Archaic
9.1

A very large string instrument like a big violin that makes low sounds

wheel fiddle
9.9

A string instrument that makes sound when a wheel rubs its strings

How Lively

to fiddle
2 4.2
to play
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

fiddle infinitive
fiddled past
fiddled past participle
fiddling present participle
fiddles third person singular

Etymology

Fiddle for the violin is a very old word and comes from medieval names like fidula, which meant a 'string instrument' played with a bow. So to 'fiddle' in music is to play that lively, informal violin.