What is another word for fiddle ?

To toy or tinker with something, especially aimlessly

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“He did not meet her gaze but began to fiddle with his pen instead.”

Verb

handle without permission

To tinker with something (haphazardly) in an attempt to make adjustments

touch without permission

tinker at the edges of

rearrange the deckchairs on the Titanic

mess about with

tinker with the edges of

vandalize^US

vandalise^UK

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“Sliders allow you to fiddle with the settings while seeing exactly what's happening.”

Verb

To manipulate or tamper with something, typically with nefarious intentions

predetermine the result of

color^US

colour^UK

stack the deck

buy off

pull strings

prearrange the result of

give a false account of

bastardize^US

bastardise^UK

mold^US

mould^UK

put the wrong slant on

give a false impression of

dramatize^US

romanticise^UK

dramatise^UK

romanticize^US

put words in somebody's mouth

phony^US

give a false picture of

phoney^UK

create out of thin air

dope

mix with

thin out

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“Well, to cut a long story short, Barry began to fiddle the books and embezzled quite a large sum of money over a few months.”

Verb

pull a fast one on someone

To cheat, deceive or defraud someone for personal gain

victimise^UK

victimize^US

sell a bill of goods to

lead up the garden path

rope in

lead on

stitch up

take someone for a ride

give someone a bum steer

screw over

put one over on someone

throw dust in someone's eyes

pull fast one

pull the wool over somebody's eyes

do someone in the eye

jiggle

fraud

penalise^UK

punish

penalize^US

baulk^UK

balk^US

lead somebody down the garden path

take to the cleaner's

lead one down the garden path

get the better of

pull someone's leg

make a sucker of

pull the wool over one's eyes

bleed someone of something

pull the wool over someone's eyes

outmaneuver^US

live off the backs of

sell someone down the river

worm one's way out of

terrorize^US

lead down the garden path

play a practical joke on

hypnotize^US

mesmerize^US

terrorise^UK

put on the wrong track

give wrong information to

send on a wild goose chase

throw off the scent

put up smoke screen

give the wrong impression

hypnotise^UK

mesmerise^UK

twist around your little finger

patronise^UK

patronize^US

play someone for a sucker

use for one's own ends

worm something out of someone

put the bite on someone for

blackmail someone for

make pay through nose

exploit a loophole in

tamper with

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“This demonstrates how many scoundrels there are out there just waiting to fiddle the unsuspecting.”

Verb

be like a cat on hot bricks

To move or fidget about restlessly

agonize^US

agonise^UK

labor^US

labour^UK

be on pins and needles

have ants in one's pants

swing backwards and forwards

move from side to side

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“Ingrid then found him staring at her intently, which made her fiddle uncomfortably in her seat.”

Verb

go through with a fine-tooth comb

To rummage in search of something

leave no stone unturned

scrutinize^US

scrutinise^UK

enquire^UK

inquire^US

go over with a fine-tooth comb

leave no stone unturned in

go through with fine-tooth comb

reconnoiter^US

reconnoitre^UK

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“She started to fiddle about in her bag for something.”

Verb

To poke repeatedly

go for a constitutional

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Verb

Wander about listlessly and aimlessly because of unhappiness or boredom

Verb

To engage in an activity for enjoyment or recreation

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Verb

(based on instrument used) To produce music

Verb

To arrange or contrive

twist round one's little finger

organize^US

organise^UK

turn to one's advantage

use to one's advantage

mobilize^US

mobilise^UK

participate in a conspiracy

draft^US

fraternize^US

draught^UK

sympathize^US

take part in a conspiracy

sympathise^UK

fraternise^UK

have the bright idea of

make arrangements for

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Verb

To waste or spend time in aimless activity

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Verb

spend money as if there were no tomorrow

To waste something frivolously

spend money as if it were going out of style

throw around like confetti

cast away

pour something down the drain

diddle away

idle away

let money slip through one's fingers

spend money as if it grew on trees

idle

chuck something down the drain

dally

be wastefully extravagant with

spend money as if it grows on trees

splash out

spring for

pour money down the drain

spend money like water

spend recklessly

throw money down the drain

utilize^US

utilise^UK

play ducks and drakes with

spend money as if it were going out of fashion

spend as if there were no tomorrow

spend as if it were going out of style

spend as if it grows on trees

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Noun

An act of defrauding, cheating, or falsifying

bit of sharp practice

pretence^UK

pretense^US

hypocritical behaviour

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“How was he able to work such an elaborate fiddle unless he'd had inside help?”

Noun

Any of various bowed string instruments, often a violin

“An old man was playing the fiddle, with a boy accompanying him on the bagpipes.”

Noun

News or information that is fake or of inferior quality

pretence^UK

pretense^US

dialogue^UK

dialog^US

rumor^US

rumour^UK

unintelligible language

clamour^UK

clamor^US

monologue^UK

rumors^US

monolog^US

verbalizing^US

verbalising^UK

rumours^UK

beauty-parlor chitchat

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Noun

An illegal or dishonest scheme

bit of sharp practice