I asked Jason to stop twiddling with the pencils.
•Someone is twiddling with the stereo controls.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
twiddle — ► VERB ▪ play or fiddle with (something) in a purposeless or nervous way. ► NOUN 1) an act of twiddling. 2) a rapid or intricate series of musical notes. ● twiddle one s thumbs Cf. ↑twiddle one s thumbs … English terms dictionary
twiddle — twid|dle [ˈtwıdl] v [I and T] [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: Probably copying the action] 1.) twiddle your thumbs informal to do nothing while you are waiting for something to happen ▪ Let s go there s no point in sitting here twiddling our thumbs.… … Dictionary of contemporary English
twiddle — UK [ˈtwɪd(ə)l] / US verb Word forms twiddle : present tense I/you/we/they twiddle he/she/it twiddles present participle twiddling past tense twiddled past participle twiddled 1) [intransitive/transitive] to twist or turn something in a bored or… … English dictionary
twiddle — 1 verb (T) 1 also twiddle with to move or turn something around with your fingers many times, especially because you are bored 2 twiddle your thumbs informal a) to do nothing while you are waiting for something to happen b) to join your fingers… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
twiddle — twid|dle [ twıdl ] verb 1. ) transitive to turn a switch on a piece of equipment or a machine: He twiddled the radio dial until he found a news program. 2. ) intransitive or transitive to twist or turn something in a bored or nervous way: She… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
twiddle — twiddler, n. /twid l/, v., twiddled, twiddling, n. v.t. 1. to turn about or play with lightly or idly, esp. with the fingers; twirl. v.i. 2. to play or trifle idly with something; fiddle. 3. to turn about lightly; twirl. 4. twiddle one s thumbs,… … Universalium
twiddle — twid•dle [[t]ˈtwɪd l[/t]] v. dled, dling, n. 1) to turn about or play with lightly or idly, esp. with the fingers; twirl 2) to play or trifle idly with something; fiddle 3) to turn about lightly; twirl 4) the act of twiddling; turn; twirl •… … From formal English to slang
twiddle — [c]/ˈtwɪdl / (say twidl) verb (twiddled, twiddling) –verb (t) 1. to turn round and round, especially with the fingers. –verb (i) 2. to play with something idly, as by touching or handling. 3. to turn round and round; twirl. –noun 4. the act of… …
twiddle — I. verb (twiddled; twiddling) Etymology: origin unknown Date: circa 1540 intransitive verb 1. to play negligently with something ; fiddle 2. to turn or jounce lightly < twiddles round and round in the water J. B. S. Haldane > … New Collegiate Dictionary
twiddle — [[t]twɪ̱d(ə)l[/t]] twiddles, twiddling, twiddled 1) VERB If you twiddle something, you twist it or turn it quickly with your fingers. [V n] He twiddled a knob on the dashboard... [V with n] She had sat there twiddling nervously with the clasp of… … English dictionary
fiddle with — verb manipulate, as in a nervous or unconscious manner He twiddled his thumbs while waiting for the interview • Syn: ↑twiddle • Derivationally related forms: ↑twiddler (for: ↑twiddle) • Hypernyms: ↑ … Useful english dictionary
