fiddle around
To toy or play in an idle, fidgety, aimless or unstructured wayTo toy or play (with something) in an idle, fidgety, aimless or unstructured way; to mess around (with); to muck around (with).
» They're just fiddling around with that computer.
Meaning
2 senses(intransitive, transitive)To toy or play (with something) in an idle, fidgety, aimless or unstructured way; to mess around (with); to muck around (with).
Stop fiddling around with those matches before you set the place on fire.
(intransitive, transitive)To tinker (with): to make small adjustments or improvements (to something), especially in an experimental or unskilled manner.
I've been fiddling around all morning, trying to get this old lawnmower to work.
Examples
2 sentencesThey're just fiddling around with that computer.
Skura was fiddling around with her rings.
Forms
fiddles around, fiddling around, fiddled around, fiddled around| Base form | fiddle around · to fiddle around |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | fiddles around |
| Present participle | fiddling around |
| Past simple | fiddled around |
| Past participle | fiddled around |
irregular
Phrasal verbs
4 phrasal verbs- fiddle awayTo play the fiddle idly.
- fiddle aroundTo toy or play (with something) in an idle, fidgety, aimless or unstructured way; to mess around (with); to muck around (with).
- fiddle aboutSynonym of fiddle around.
- fiddle withTo manipulate or toy with (an object), especially in a nervous, restless or aimless manner.
Lessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Phrasal verbs: introduction — Because it is a phrasal verb