1. A violin used to play folk music
   "The fiddler played lively tunes at the barn dance"
    
2. [informal] Bowed stringed instrument that is the highest member of the violin family; this instrument has four strings and a hollow body and an unfretted fingerboard and is played with a bow
   "She practised her fiddle concerto for hours each day";
   - violin
    
3. [Brit, informal] Intentional deception resulting in injury to another person
   "The tax fiddle was uncovered by auditors";
   - fraud
    
4. [Brit, informal] Something awkward to do or use, requiring a degree of manual dexterity
   "Adjusting the old radio's antenna was a bit of a fiddle"

1. [informal] Play around with or alter or falsify, usually secretively or dishonestly
   "the reporter fiddled with the facts";
   - tamper, monkey
    
2. [informal] (music) play the violin or fiddle
   "Zuckerman fiddled that song very nicely"
    
3. Handle or manipulate something idly or absentmindedly
   "Don't fiddle with the screws";
   - toy, play
    
4. [informal] Commit fraud and steal from one's employer
   "We found out that she had been fiddling for years"
    
5. Try to fix or mend
   "She always fiddles with her van on the weekend";
   - tinker
    
6. Avoid (one's assigned duties)
   "He was always fiddling at work";
   - shirk, goldbrick [N. Amer, informal]

Derived forms: fiddled, fiddles, fiddling

Type of: avoid, bowed stringed instrument, bushel [US], crime, criminal offence [Brit, Cdn], criminal offense [US], defalcate, doctor [informal], embezzle, fix, law-breaking, malversate [archaic], manipulate, mend, misappropriate, peculate, play, repair, spiel, string

Encyclopedia: Fiddle