From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishfiddlefid‧dle1 /ˈfɪdl/ noun [countable] informal 1 APMa violin2 British EnglishSCCCHEAT a dishonest way of getting money an insurance fiddleon the fiddle They suspected he was on the fiddle (=getting money dishonestly or illegally) all along.3 → be a fiddle → fit as a fiddle at fit2(1), → play second fiddle (to somebody) at play1(22)
Examples from the Corpus
fiddle• Managers don't really get paid much here, but most of them are working a few fiddles.• One boy had brought his fiddle and played a tune.• So a bit of fiddle, but nothing really egregious.• The firm realised some sort of fiddle was going on, but they had no idea how much they were losing.• Within three weeks I was again as fit as Carl's fiddle.• Even the lyrics tend to play second fiddle and are generally added after the main melody has been composed.• She might also have simply got tired of playing second fiddle to the Prince's pastimes.• The locals were not satisfied playing second fiddle to Los Angeles.• Herron rounded out the band with some fiddle and steel guitar.• Majella took up the fiddle, I got an accordion and Mary got a banjo.on the fiddle• Ila Steven played reels on the fiddle and Jean Bechar sang Burns songs.fiddlefiddle2 verb 1 [intransitive]HOLD to keep moving and touching something, especially because you are bored or nervous Stop fiddling, will you! I sat and fiddled at the computer for a while.fiddle with She was at her desk in the living room, fiddling with a deck of cards.2 [transitive] British English informalSCC to give false information about something, in order to avoid paying money or to get extra money Bert had been fiddling his income tax for years.fiddle the books (=give false figures in a company’s financial records)3 [intransitive] to play a violin → fiddle around → fiddle around with something → fiddle with something→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
fiddle• I fiddle at my computer for a while, trying to figure out what to say.• In the hushed surroundings of a smart restaurant, Boon fiddles enigmatically with a fob watch on a neck chain.• We had fiddled in Maastricht while Sarajevo began to burn.• My boss thinks I've been fiddling my travel expenses.• The company secretary has been fiddling the books for years.• She was sitting at her desk in the living room, fiddling with a pencil and drinking from a bottle of beer.• His wife fiddled with her spoons, putting the dessert spoon into the curve of the soup spoon.• Gary was fiddling with his wedding band when his illumination came.• The mechanics fiddled with my ship.• Obligingly, I did, and he fiddled with the lock.fiddle with• Martina was fiddling nervously with her pen.• She fiddled nervously with her watch strap.• Stop fiddling with the remote control!• Stop fiddling with your toys and pay attention.fiddle the books• The man he sacked for fiddling the books of his business.From Longman Business Dictionaryfiddlefid‧dle /ˈfɪdl/ verb [transitive] informal to give false information about something in order to avoid paying money, or to get extra moneyIt would be naive to think that staff never fiddle their expenses.Auditors ensure that employers or directors have not been fiddling the books. —fiddle noun [countable]an allegedinsurance fiddle→ See Verb tableOrigin fiddle1 (1200-1300) Medieval Latin vitula “instrument played at ceremonies” 