diddling
Cheating someone slowly
Diddling covers several informal and slang meanings.
Most commonly, to diddle means to waste time or move aimlessly: I spent the afternoon diddling around on my phone.
It can also mean to cheat or swindle someone, especially out of small amounts.
In vulgar slang, diddling refers to sexual touching or fondling, particularly of genitals.
The word carries a casual, slightly dismissive tone across all its uses.
Aimless time-wasting
- dilly-dallyingWasting time indecisively
- putteringUnhurried aimless activity
- potteringAimless light activity
- fritteringWasting gradually, carelessly
tinkering · messing · fooling around · killing time · wasting time · loafing · idling · procrastinating
Improper interference with something
- tinkeringCasual, unskilled adjusting
- tweakingSlight adjustment process
- adjustingAltering to correct
- riggingRopes controlling ship sails
fixing · jiggering · messing with · fooling with · playing with · monkeying · finagling · fudging
lollygagging
Aimless time-wasting
- dilly-dallyingWasting time indecisively
- putteringUnhurried aimless activity
- potteringAimless light activity
frittering · tinkering · messing · fooling around · killing time · wasting time · loafing · idling · procrastinating · shilly-shallying
tampering
Improper interference with something
rigging · fixing · jiggering · messing with · fooling with · playing with · monkeying · finagling · fudging · doctoring
swindle
Deception for financial gain
deception · flimflam · gyp · bamboozle · dupery · hoax · grift · hustle · bilk · cheat
piddling
Insignificantly small
minor · negligible · inconsequential · small · slight · paltry · measly · meager · picayune · footling