fiddle

IPA: fˈɪdʌɫ

Synonym of 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; the position of a violinist in a band; (usually proscribed) any of various bowed stringed instruments, particularly those of the violin family when played non-classically.
(figurative) Synonym of clown: an unserious person entertaining a group.
(figurative) Unskillful or unartful behavior, particularly when showy and superficially pleasing.
(chiefly US, dated slang) Synonym of scam, a fraud or swindle.
(slang) Synonym of workaround, a quick and less than perfect solution for some flaw or problem.
(especially nautical) Any rail or device that prevents items from sliding off a table, stove, etc. in rough water.
(UK slang, obsolete) Synonym of arrest warrant.
(UK slang, obsolete) Synonym of watchman's rattle.
(UK slang, obsolete) A trifling amount.
Something resembling a violin in shape
(biology) A dock (Rumex pulcher) with leaves supposed to resemble the musical instrument.
A long pole pulled by a draft animal to drag loose straw, hay, etc.
A rack for drying pottery after glazing.

To play the fiddle or violin, particularly in a folk or country style.
To fidget or play; to idly amuse oneself, to act aimlessly, idly, or frivolously, particularly out of nervousness or restlessness.
(informal) To cheat or swindle; to commit fraud.
(informal) Synonym of tinker, to make small adjustments or improvements.

Examples of "fiddle" in Sentences

He took out his fiddle from a highly polished box.
With the Joker playing main fiddle, the villains could be endless.
But I guess playing political second fiddle is humiliating enough.
It was well enough when I was at the head, but now second fiddle is slow.
"No, that about the fiddle is not quite what I mean," she thought, running up the steps and feeling in her bag for the key – she'd forgotten it, as usual – and rattling the letter-box.
The two ran through songs from Sleep With One Eye Open, their recently released album of traditional bluegrass music, and also took requests from the audience during a section of the show they called "fiddle tune request song."