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fiddlesticks

fiddlesticks

9.9
An old-fashioned word people say to show disbelief or annoyance
  • interjection
  • /ˈfɪdəlˌstɪks/
  • Archaic
translation icon : ¡tonterías!
  • When he heard the rumor, he replied, "Fiddlesticks! That can't be true."

Examples

  • Oh, fiddlesticks! That can't be true!

  • She muttered fiddlesticks under her breath when the computer crashed.

  • Oh, fiddlesticks! I forgot to bring my wallet again.

  • I can't believe you said that, fiddlesticks!

  • Oh, fiddlesticks! I can't believe you thought that plan would work.

  • When she heard his explanation, she exclaimed, "Fiddlesticks! That's just nonsense!"

  • He waved his hand dismissively and said, "Fiddlesticks, that's not how it happened!"

Synonyms

heck
vsfiddlesticks
  • Informal
422 7.5

A small amount of care or worry about something

is old-fashioned and used to dismiss things as nonsense rather than mild surprise
what the hell
vsfiddlesticks
  • NSFW
347 8.9

An angry or surprised question showing you do not believe something

is older and milder, used to show nonsense rather than strong anger
what the heck
vsfiddlesticks
  • Informal
90 8.9

A short cry to show surprise, confusion, disbelief, or casual acceptance

is older and more about dismissing ideas as nonsense rather than shock
bah
vsfiddlesticks
  • Informal
40 9.3

A short sound people make to show they feel annoyed or do not believe something

is older and milder, used more to label things as nonsense
pfft
vsfiddlesticks
  • Informal
19 9.9

A short sound showing disbelief or lack of interest

is older and more commonly used to call something nonsense rather than dismiss
hah
vsfiddlesticks
  • Informal
18 8.9

A quick sound that shows scorn or disbelief

is older and more likely used to call things nonsense rather than mere scorn
damnit
vsfiddlesticks
  • NSFW
15 8.4

A short angry cry people say when they feel annoyed or frustrated

is older and milder, tending to dismiss things as nonsense rather than swear
drat
vsfiddlesticks
  • Informal
7 9.5

A short spoken word people use to show mild annoyance or disappointment

is older and more often used to call something nonsense rather than mere annoyance
gawd
vsfiddlesticks
  • Slang
4 9.9

A short informal word people say when they feel surprise, shock, or annoyance

is older and gentler, used to call something nonsense rather than shock
doggone
vsfiddlesticks
  • Informal
4 9.4

A short exclamation that shows annoyance or disappointment

is older and more likely to label statements as nonsense instead of frustration
freakin
vsfiddlesticks
  • NSFW
4 9.9

A short cry people say to show surprise or anger

is older and less tied to genre speech, focusing on calling something nonsense
foo
vsfiddlesticks
  • Informal
3 9.9

A short word said to show you do not respect something

is older and milder, focusing on nonsense rather than blunt contempt
fie
vsfiddlesticks
  • Archaic
2 9.9

An old exclamation showing strong disapproval or disgust

is older and more about mild disbelief and nonsense than disgust
geesh
vsfiddlesticks
  • Informal
2 9.9

An informal word people say to show surprise, annoyance, or that they do not believe something

is old-fashioned and more likely to call something nonsensical
goddamnit
vsfiddlesticks
  • Offensive
1 9.9

People say a strong angry word when they feel very annoyed

is old-fashioned and milder, used to show disbelief or call things nonsense
hahahahaha
vsfiddlesticks
  • Informal
1 9.0

A written laugh that shows you are mocking someone or do not believe them

is spoken and older, typically used to call statements nonsense
harrumph
vsfiddlesticks
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A short gruff sound that shows annoyance or disapproval

is older and more about calling things silly or nonsense than huffing
crapola
vsfiddlesticks
  • NSFW
1 9.9

A short exclamation showing frustration or surprise

is older and more likely to sound quaint while calling things nonsense
fricking
vsfiddlesticks
  • Slang
1 9.7

Say to show anger, surprise, or frustration

is older and gentler, used to express disbelief or call something nonsense
horsefeathers
vsfiddlesticks
  • Archaic
9.9

A short shout to show you do not believe something or are annoyed

is similarly old-fashioned but milder and less playful in tone
poh
vsfiddlesticks
  • Archaic
9.9

A short word people say to show they do not believe or respect something

is older and more often used to call things nonsense rather than contempt
consarned
vsfiddlesticks
  • Archaic
9.9

An old mild word people say when they are annoyed

is older but focuses more on calling statements nonsense than anger
gadzooks
vsfiddlesticks
  • Archaic
9.9

An old-fashioned shout to show surprise or annoyance

is older and used more specifically to call things nonsense
humpf
vsfiddlesticks
  • Informal
9.9

A short sound people use as a reply to show annoyance or disbelief

is older and more likely to label something as nonsense rather than contempt
hurf
vsfiddlesticks
  • Offensive
9.9

A short exclamation showing disbelief or contempt

is older and usually expresses nonsense or light annoyance instead of contempt
what the cuss
vsfiddlesticks
  • Informal
9.9

A short angry or surprised shout used instead of a rude word

is old-fashioned and milder, often used to call something nonsense
oh my heck
vsfiddlesticks
  • Informal
9.9

A short phrase people say when they feel surprised or do not believe something

is older and more likely to stress that something is nonsense
yikes on bikes
vsfiddlesticks
  • Informal
9.9

A short shout showing surprise, alarm, or disbelief

is older and more often used to call something nonsense than alarm
bejeezus
vsfiddlesticks
  • Informal
9.9

A loud informal shout that shows surprise, shock, or strong annoyance

is older and more playful, often used to dismiss something as nonsense
Christ on a stick
vsfiddlesticks
  • Offensive
9.9

A short shocked cry showing disbelief about something ridiculous

is older and milder, mainly used to call things nonsense rather than loud ridicule
dadgum
vsfiddlesticks
  • Archaic
9.9

A short word said to show mild surprise, annoyance, or frustration

is older and used more for dismissing statements as nonsense
drats
vsfiddlesticks
  • Archaic
9.9

A mild, old-fashioned exclamation said when you feel annoyed or disappointed

is similar in age but more often used to label something as nonsense
goldamned
vsfiddlesticks
  • NSFW
9.9

People say this to show annoyance or strong feeling

is older and gentler, used to dismiss something as nonsense rather than curse
fecking
vsfiddlesticks
  • NSFW
9.9

A short word people say to show surprise, anger, or annoyance

is older and milder, aimed more at showing disbelief or nonsense
frelling
vsfiddlesticks
  • Slang
9.9

A short mild swear people say to show anger or surprise

is older and more general, used to mark nonsense and disbelief

Antonyms

1.0

A fact that shows how things really are

4.1

A particular meaning of a word or expression

Surface Forms

Morphology

fiddlesticks = fiddlestick (opaque) = fiddle + stick + s

Although formed from 'fiddle' + 'stick', the exclamation sense is idiomatic and its force ('nonsense' or annoyance) cannot be derived from the literal parts.

Etymology

Fiddlesticks is an old, mild exclamation that likely comes from fiddle (a small violin) plus sticks, giving a sense of something small or silly. That's why people use fiddlesticks to show 'nonsense', 'surprise', or 'annoyance' instead of stronger language.