fiddle
Bluegrass bow instrument
A fiddle is a violin, especially when used for folk, country, or informal music rather than classical performance.
The word also names any similar stringed instrument.
To fiddle is to play such an instrument, or more commonly, to tinker restlessly with something: Stop fiddling with your phone.
To fiddle with accounts or records is to falsify them.
Fit as a fiddle means in excellent health.
Play second fiddle means take a subordinate role.
Respectful forward inclination
- stringsThin flexible lines
- rosinSolidified conifer sap
- pegboxTuning mechanism enclosure
- fingerboardString instrument's pitch surface
tailpiece · chinrest · bridge · scroll · soundpost · f-hole · tuning · bowing
Solo-and-orchestra composition
- sonataMulti-movement instrumental composition
- symphonyExtended composition for orchestra
- orchestraLarge instrumental ensemble
- chamberEnclosed room or cavity
quartet · virtuoso · soloist · baroque · classical · Paganini · cadenza · étude
Winding cylinder or dance
- jigSpirited folk dance
- hoedownLively rural dance gathering
- bluegrassAcoustic Appalachian folk music
- old-timeOf a past era
Appalachian · square dance · barn dance · contra dance · ceilidh · session · breakdown · hornpipe
Change to fit better
- tweakMinor adjustment
- tamperInterfere harmfully
- tinkerMender of metal household wares
- fidgetRestless small movements
toy with · mess with · play with · twiddle · meddle · putter · futz · niggle
Intentional criminal trickery
- cheatAct dishonestly to win
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- conArgument against
- fixRepair or solution
rig · scam · falsify · cook the books · embezzle · manipulate · fudge · doctor
Stringed instrument craftsperson
- woodworkingCraft of shaping lumber
- carvingShaping by cutting away
- varnishLiquid that dries glossy
- inlayEmbedded surface ornamentation
handmade · joinery · spruce · maple · ebony · restoration · workmanship · precision
bow
Respectful forward inclination
fingerboard · tailpiece · chinrest · bridge · scroll · soundpost · f-hole · tuning · bowing · pizzicato
concerto
Solo-and-orchestra composition
- sonataMulti-movement instrumental composition
- symphonyExtended composition for orchestra
- orchestraLarge instrumental ensemble
chamber · quartet · virtuoso · soloist · baroque · classical · Paganini · cadenza · étude · conservatory
reel
Winding cylinder or dance
old-time · Appalachian · square dance · barn dance · contra dance · ceilidh · session · breakdown · hornpipe · tune
adjust
Change to fit better
fidget · toy with · mess with · play with · twiddle · meddle · putter · futz · niggle · fine-tune
fraud
Intentional criminal trickery
fix · rig · scam · falsify · cook the books · embezzle · manipulate · fudge · doctor · inflate
luthier
Stringed instrument craftsperson
- woodworkingCraft of shaping lumber
- carvingShaping by cutting away
- varnishLiquid that dries glossy
inlay · handmade · joinery · spruce · maple · ebony · restoration · workmanship · precision · purfling
- AmericanaAmerican flag, Fourth of July, bald eagle, Thanksgiving, apple pie
- Country Musichonky tonk, Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, CMT, country pop
- folk musicfolk, folk music, folk songs, folk ballads, folk ballad
- folk song imageryold oak tree, willow tree, river crossing, rolling hills, dusty trail
- Irish-AmericanIrish-American, Irish American, Irish heritage, Irish diaspora, Irish immigrants
- KentuckyLouisville, Lexington, Frankfort, Kentucky Derby, bourbon
fiddlestill
Unmoving, or continuing
be still · leave alone · rest · keep still · hands off
fiddlefocus
Concentrated attention point
concentrate · judgment · discernment · wisdom · deliberate
fiddleplay fair
Act honestly in competition
be honest · give · follow the rules · integrity · straightforwardness
- fiddle withAdjust idly or nervously
- fiddling aroundIdle, unfocused activity
- fit as a fiddleIn excellent physical condition
- second fiddleSubordinate position or role
- play second fiddleOccupy secondary rank
- fiddled aroundSpent time unproductively
fiddling, fiddles, fiddled, fiddler, fiddlers, fiddlesticks, fiddleheads, fiddlestick, fiddlehead