verb
twiddle
TWIH-duhl
verb
1
To fidget with or turn something idly with the fingers.
"He sat twiddling his pen through the entire meeting."
"She twiddled the radio dial looking for a clear signal."
How to Use Twiddle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo play absent-mindedly with something small using your fingers.
Common mistake
"Twiddle your thumbs" is a set idiom meaning to sit idle waiting for something, not literally twisting your thumbs together.
Common pairings
twiddle your thumbs
twiddle a knob
twiddle a dial
Word Forms
twiddled past tense, twiddles plural, twiddles singular
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She _____ the radio dial looking for a clear signal.
Etymology
Origin unclear; possibly a blend of twirl, twist, and fiddle.