Meaning of Fiddle | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A violin, a small unfretted stringed instrument with four strings tuned (lowest to highest) G-D-A-E, usually held against the chin, shoulder, chest or on the upper thigh and played with a bow (see also usage notes below).
2. Any of various other bowed stringed instruments, particularly those of the violin family when played non-classically.
   proscribed, usually
3. A violinist, or fiddler, in a band.
4. Something resembling a violin, or fiddle, in shape
5. A dock (Rumex pulcher) with leaves supposed to resemble the musical instrument.
6. A long pole pulled by a draft animal to drag loose straw, hay, etc.
7. A rack for drying pottery after glazing.
8. A clown; an unserious person entertaining a group.
   figuratively
9. Unskillful or unartful behavior, particularly when showy and superficially pleasing.
   figuratively, informal
10. A scam; a fraud or swindle.
    figuratively, informal
11. A workaround; a quick and less than perfect solution for some flaw or problem.
    figuratively, informal
12. An act of tinkering, playing around, or fidgeting with something.
    figuratively, informal
13. Any rail or device that prevents items from sliding off a table, stove, etc. in rough water.
    especially
14. An arrest warrant.
    UK, obsolete, slang
15. A watchman's rattle.
    UK, obsolete, slang
16. A trifling amount.
    UK, obsolete, slang

Equivalents

Examples

“...Of harpe & of salteriun. of fiðele & of coriun...”

“Johnny, rosin up your bow and play⟳ your fiddle hard 'Cause Hell's broke loose in Georgia an' the Devil deals the cards...”

“When I play⟳ it like⟳ this, it's a fiddle; when I play⟳ it like⟳ that, it's a violin.”

“The fiddle of these early times, however, was the viol and not our modern violin.”

“He is first fiddle in the band.”

“You would not have⟳ your Son the Fiddle to every jovial Company.”

“There was some kind of fiddle going on at that company, and several of the directors were arrested.”

“Says Bevin: 'I want⟳ peace... and we shan't get⟳ it unless we deal⟳ with one another as friends. I will be a party to no fiddles.'”

“I know⟳ you'll think⟳ this is one of my fiddles. At my last⟳ parish we raffled a horse and trap⟳,... a clothes horse and a mousetrap.”

“That parameter setting is just a fiddle to make⟳ the lighting look⟳ right.”

“Most people are quite careful about buying appliances. When looking at TVs for instance you might look⟳ for a particular brand, peruse the definition and colors on the screen, and maybe even have⟳ a fiddle with the remote.”

“The meal is served on special trays which slot into the arms of airline-type seats of the passenger coaches. The trays have⟳ fiddles for each of the plates, cups and glasses, and the crockery is so well-designed that it is seldom any of the contents get⟳ spilled.”

“Done at a fiddle.”

CEFR level