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.

Origin of twiddle

1530–40; perhaps blend of twitch and fiddle

OTHER WORDS FROM twiddle

twid·dler, noun

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, noun

Word 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]