twiddle
[ twid-l ]
/ ˈtwɪd l /
verb (used with object), twid·dled, twid·dling.
to turn about or play with lightly or idly, especially with the fingers; twirl.
verb (used without object), twid·dled, twid·dling.
to play or trifle idly with something; fiddle.
to turn about lightly; twirl.
noun
the act of twiddling; turn; twirl.
Idioms for twiddle
twiddle one's thumbs,
to do nothing; be idle: Business was slack, and the salespeople were twiddling their thumbs.
OTHER WORDS FROM twiddle
twid·dler, nounWords nearby twiddle
twice-born,
twice-laid,
twice-told,
twicer,
twickenham,
twiddle,
twiddle one's thumbs,
twig,
twig blight,
twig borer,
twig girdler
British Dictionary definitions for twiddle one's thumbs
twiddle
/ (ˈtwɪdəl) /
verb
(when intr, often foll by with)
to twirl or fiddle (with), often in an idle way
to do nothing; be unoccupied
(intr)
to turn, twirl, or rotate
(intr) rare
to be occupied with trifles
noun
an act or instance of twiddling
Derived forms of twiddle
twiddler, nounWord Origin for twiddle
C16: probably a blend of
twirl +
fiddle
Idioms and Phrases with twiddle one's thumbs
twiddle one's thumbs
Be bored or idle, as in There I sat for three hours, twiddling my thumbs, while he made call after call. This expression alludes to the habit of idly turning one's thumbs about one another during a period of inactivity. [Mid-1800s]