fiddling — annoyingly trivial or petty; insignificant
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: annoyingly trivial or petty; insignificant
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈfɪdlɪŋ/
Example Sentences
- The boss got angry over such fiddling matters as the font size in the presentation.
- She's always fiddling with her jewelry when she's nervous.
- Don't worry about those fiddling concerns - focus on the big picture!
fiddling
ADJECTIVE[/ˈfɪdlɪŋ/]
annoyingly trivial or petty; insignificant
He keeps fiddling with the pen instead of answering the interviewer's question.
Stop fiddling with riddling - your skills stay middling!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Middle English 'fidele', originally referring to stringed instruments such as the violin. The term evolved from the instrument itself to mean 'to tinker' or 'to handle restlessly', extending the sense of manipulating the instrument's strings to handling other objects in a fussy manner.
Breakdown
fiddle (to handle restlessly; originally a stringed instrument) + -ing (present participle suffix forming a gerund or adjective).
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The boss got angry over such fiddling matters as the font size in the presentation.”
“She's always fiddling with her jewelry when she's nervous.”
“Don't worry about those fiddling concerns - focus on the big picture!”
“The musician was fiddling a cheerful tune at the street corner.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.