fiddle

fid|dle1 [ `fıdl ] verb *

1. ) intransitive to touch or move something with many small quick movements of your fingers because you are bored, nervous, or concentrating on something else:

fiddle with: She fiddled with her napkin, avoiding his eyes.

a ) to touch, move, or change something many times in order to improve it or make it work better:

Kay was fiddling with the radio dial.

2. ) transitive INFORMAL to produce false results or records, in order to get money or other benefits:

They all fiddle their taxes.

fiddle the figures/books/accounts: They accuse the government of fiddling the unemployment figures.

3. ) intransitive INFORMAL to play a tune on the VIOLIN

fiddle while Rome burns

to be busy doing unimportant things when you should be dealing with an important problem

,fiddle a`round phrasal verb intransitive

1. ) fiddle around with same as FIDDLE1 1:

He's been fiddling around with the VCR again.

2. ) to waste time doing things that are not important or useful

fiddle

fid|dle 2 [ `fıdl ] noun count INFORMAL

1. ) a VIOLIN

2. ) a dishonest method of getting money or other benefits:

a tax/insurance fiddle

3. ) usually singular an act of touching, moving, or changing something many times in order to improve it or make it work better

fit as a fiddle INFORMAL

very fit

play second fiddle to someone

to be less important or less powerful than someone else