| Front | fiddle |
|---|---|
| Back | verb, nounBrE /ˈfɪdl/NAmE /ˈfɪdl/ verb 1 [intransitive] ~ (with sth) to keep touching or moving sth with your hands, especially because you are bored or nervousHe was fiddling with his keys while he talked to me. 2 [transitive] ~ sth (informal) to change the details or figures of sth in order to try to get money dishonestly, or gain an advantageto fiddle the accounts She fiddled the books (= changed a company's financial records) while working as an accountant. 3 [intransitive] (informal) to play music on the violin ˌfiddle aˈbout/aˈroundto spend your time doing things that are not importantˌfiddle aˈbout/aˈround with sth| ˈfiddle with sth 1 to keep touching sth or making small changes to sth because you are not satisfied with itI've been fiddling about with this design for ages. 2 to touch or move the parts of sth in order to try to change it or repair itWho's been fiddling with the TV again? noun  word origin (informal)1 [countable] = violin 2 [countable] (BrE) something that is done dishonestly to get money fraudan insurance/tax, etc. fiddle 3 [singular] (BrE) an act of moving sth or adjusting sth in order to make it work 4 [singular] (BrE) something that is difficult to dobe on the ˈfiddle (BrE) to be doing sth dishonest to get moneyTheir accountant has been on the fiddle for years.play second ˈfiddle (to sb/sth)to be treated as less important than sb/sth; to have a less important position than sb/sth elseI'm not going to play second fiddle to anyone. The narrative in this book plays second fiddle to the excellent photographs. more at fit as a fiddle at fit adj. |
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