fiddling
adjective
[ ˈfɪdlɪŋ ]
• annoyingly trivial or petty.
• "fiddling little details"
Similar:
trivial,
petty,
trifling,
insignificant,
unimportant,
inconsequential,
inconsiderable,
negligible,
paltry,
footling,
minor,
small,
slight,
incidental,
of little/no account,
piddling,
piffling,
penny-ante,
twopenny-halfpenny,
nickel-and-dime,
picayune,
chickenshit,
fiddle
verb
• touch or fidget with something in a restless or nervous way.
• "Lena fiddled with her cup"
Similar:
fidget,
play,
toy,
twiddle,
fuss,
fool about,
fool around,
trifle,
finger,
thumb,
handle,
feel,
touch,
waste time,
act aimlessly,
mess about,
mess around,
paw,
• falsify (figures, data, or records), typically in order to gain money.
• "everyone is fiddling their expenses"
Similar:
falsify,
manipulate,
massage,
rig,
distort,
pervert,
misrepresent,
juggle,
doctor,
alter,
tamper with,
interfere with,
cook,
fix,
diddle,
finagle,
flimflam,
cook the books,
• play the violin.
Origin:
Old English fithele, denoting a violin or similar instrument (originally not an informal or depreciatory term), related to Dutch vedel and German Fiedel, based on Latin vitulari ‘celebrate a festival, be joyful’, perhaps from Vitula, the name of a Roman goddess of joy and victory. Compare with viol.
