fiddle with
phrasal verb
fiddled with; fiddling with; fiddles with
1
: to move or handle (something) with the hands or fingers in a nervous way
She was nervously fiddling with her pencil as she waited for the test to start.
2
: to change or handle (something, such as the controls of a machine) in a way that shows one is not sure what to do
He was fiddling with the controls of the television, trying to get it to work.
3
: to change (something) in a harmful or foolish way
It became clear that someone had fiddled with the equipment.
Examples of fiddle with in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But fans noticed the singer fiddling with her earpiece and microphone, leading many to believe there were some behind-the-scenes faults interfering with the set.
—
Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 July 2024
Despite a bit of initial fiddling with the buttons, the easy-to-use interface and filter replacement systems led us to score this purifier our top pick for ease of use.
—Samson McDougall, Health, 18 June 2024
For the next three hours, as an ornery donkey screeches in the valley below, seven pairs of muddy boots trek back and forth across the field, stretching black plastic sheeting, fiddling with irrigation lines and tucking tomato seedlings into the ground.
—Ashley Stimpson, Washington Post, 15 June 2024
This kind of behavior may be acceptable at some London papers, where proprietors are less hesitant to fiddle with coverage.
—Michael M. Grynbaum, New York Times, 8 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for fiddle with 
Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 July 2024
Despite a bit of initial fiddling with the buttons, the easy-to-use interface and filter replacement systems led us to score this purifier our top pick for ease of use.
—Samson McDougall, Health, 18 June 2024
For the next three hours, as an ornery donkey screeches in the valley below, seven pairs of muddy boots trek back and forth across the field, stretching black plastic sheeting, fiddling with irrigation lines and tucking tomato seedlings into the ground.
—Ashley Stimpson, Washington Post, 15 June 2024
This kind of behavior may be acceptable at some London papers, where proprietors are less hesitant to fiddle with coverage.
—Michael M. Grynbaum, New York Times, 8 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for fiddle with
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fiddle with.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Fiddle with.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fiddle%20with. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
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