Advertisement
Advertisement
twiddle
[twid-l]
verb (used with object)
to turn about or play with lightly or idly, especially with the fingers; twirl.
verb (used without object)
to play or trifle idly with something; fiddle.
to turn about lightly; twirl.
noun
the act of twiddling; turn; twirl.
twiddle
/ ˈٷɪə /
verb
to twirl or fiddle (with), often in an idle way
to do nothing; be unoccupied
(intr) to turn, twirl, or rotate
rare(intr) to be occupied with trifles
noun
an act or instance of twiddling
Other 51Թ Forms
- twiddler noun
- ˈٷɾ noun
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of twiddle1
Idioms and Phrases
twiddle one's thumbs, to do nothing; be idle.
Business was slack, and the salespeople were twiddling their thumbs.
Example Sentences
"The world is watching while American lawmakers twiddle their thumbs," he added.
Kudos to them, too, for re-energizing voters while so many forlorn Democratic leaders twiddle their thumbs and nurse the hangover of defeat.
Abrasive, shallow and giddily watchable, her Wow Platinum — what a name! — twiddles her clawed fingers like a femme fatale dead certain she can charm her way to the top.
Yet, Eggers was not one to sit and twiddle his thumbs.
Pen clicking and hair twiddling were also triggers, though not quite as frequently.
Advertisement
Related 51Թs
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse