twiddle

[twid-l] /ˈtwɪd l/
verb (used with object), twiddled, twiddling.
1.
to turn about or play with lightly or idly, especially with the fingers; twirl.
verb (used without object), twiddled, twiddling.
2.
to play or trifle idly with something; fiddle.
3.
to turn about lightly; twirl.
noun
4.
the act of twiddling; turn; twirl.
Idioms
5.
twiddle one's thumbs, to do nothing; be idle:
Business was slack, and the salespeople were twiddling their thumbs.
Origin
1530-40; perhaps blend of twitch and fiddle
Related forms
twiddler, noun
British Dictionary definitions for twiddle one's thumbs

twiddle

/ˈtwɪdəl/
verb
1.
when intr, often foll by with. to twirl or fiddle (with), often in an idle way
2.
to do nothing; be unoccupied
3.
(intransitive) to turn, twirl, or rotate
4.
(intransitive) (rare) to be occupied with trifles
noun
5.
an act or instance of twiddling
Derived Forms
twiddler, noun
Word Origin
C16: probably a blend of twirl + fiddle
Word Origin and History for twiddle one's thumbs

twiddle

v.

1540s, "to trifle," of unknown origin; of the fingers, first recorded 1670s. Figurative phrase twiddle one's thumbs "have nothing to do" is recorded from 1846; to twirl one's thumbs in the same sense is recorded from 1816. Related: Twiddled; twiddling.

Slang definitions & phrases for twiddle one's thumbs

twiddle one's thumbs

verb phrase

To waste time; be forced to sit idly and perhaps rotate one's thumbs about one another: I was anxious to help, but all I could do was twiddle my thumbs while they debated (1846+)


twiddle

noun

The tilde, a diacritical mark used especially in Spanish

verb

To change something in a small way; tweak (1980s+ Computer)


Idioms and Phrases with twiddle one's thumbs

twiddle one's thumbs

Be bored or idle, as in There I sat for three hours, twiddling my thumbs, while he made call after call. This expression alludes to the habit of idly turning one's thumbs about one another during a period of inactivity. [ Mid-1800s ]