fiddles

noun

A violin, a small unfretted stringed instrument with four strings tuned (lowest to highest) G-D-A-E, usually held against the chin, shoulder, chest or on the upper thigh and played with a bow (see also usage notes below).

A violinist, or fiddler, in a band.

(informal) A workaround; a quick and less than perfect solution for some flaw or problem.

(informal) A scam; a fraud or swindle.

(informal) An act of tinkering, playing around, or fidgeting with something.

Something resembling a violin, or fiddle, in shape, particularly:

(biology) A dock (Rumex pulcher) with leaves supposed to resemble the musical instrument.

A long pole pulled by a draft animal to drag loose straw, hay, etc.

A rack for drying pottery after glazing.

(especially nautical) Any rail or device that prevents items from sliding off a table, stove, etc. in rough water.

(figurative) A clown; an unserious person entertaining a group.

(figurative) Unskillful or unartful behavior, particularly when showy and superficially pleasing.

(usually proscribed) Any of various other bowed stringed instruments, particularly those of the violin family when played non-classically.

(UK slang, obsolete) An arrest warrant.

(UK slang, obsolete) A watchman's rattle.

(UK slang, obsolete) A trifling amount.

verb

(intransitive) To play the fiddle or violin, particularly in a folk or country style.

(intransitive) To fidget or play; to fuss; to idly amuse oneself, to act aimlessly, idly, or frivolously, particularly out of nervousness or restlessness; see also fiddle with.

(informal, transitive) To fraudulently manipulate (records, accounts, etc.) in order to cheat or swindle.

(informal, intransitive) Synonym of tinker (“to make small adjustments or improvements”); see also fiddle with.

(intransitive, UK, slang, obsolete) To do odd jobs for money.

Synonyms & related words for fiddles

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Words related to fiddles

Explore words related to fiddles — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include violin, banjo, fiddlers, mandolins, chordophone, fiddling, melodeon, cittern. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.