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

to fiddle

2 4.2
To play the violin in a lively way
  • verb
  • /ˈfɪdəl/
: 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
2 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
7 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
2 3.9

To touch or move something nervously without thinking

Compounds

fiddle-faddle
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Silly, unimportant talk that wastes time

bass fiddle
  • Specialized
1 4.7

A very large violin that makes very low sounds

bull fiddle
  • Archaic
1 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.