twiddling
Rotating between fingers
Twiddling is idle, restless movement of the fingers, typically rotating or fiddling with something small.
To twiddle your thumbs is to rotate them around each other—and by extension, to wait with nothing useful to do.
Beyond fingers, twiddling applies to any minor, aimless adjustment: twiddling the radio dial, twiddling knobs on a synthesizer.
Remaining in expectation
- boredomWeary disinterest from monotony
- loungingReclining in idleness
- loafingPassing time idly
- lazingResting without aim
aimlessness · unoccupied · leisure · inactivity · dawdling · dillydallying · puttering · distraction
Altering to correct
- turningAct of rotating
- spinningRevolving around an axis
- rotatingTurning on an axis
- manipulatingInfluencing through cunning
toying · playing · tuning · tweaking · knobs · dials · controls · switches
Restless minor movements
- jittersNervous agitation
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- nail-bitingExtremely tense or anxious
- restlessnessState of unease
unease · edginess · tension · apprehension · worry · agitation · antsy · twitchy
Remaining in expectation
- impatienceIntolerance of delay
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- boredomWeary disinterest from monotony
- restlessnessState of unease
idleness · inactivity · expectation · countdown · limbo
waiting
Remaining in expectation
lazing · aimlessness · unoccupied · leisure · inactivity · dawdling · dillydallying · puttering · distraction · idleness
adjusting
Altering to correct
manipulating · toying · playing · tuning · tweaking · knobs · dials · controls · switches · gadgets
fidgeting
Restless minor movements
- jittersNervous agitation
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- nail-bitingExtremely tense or anxious
restlessness · unease · edginess · tension · apprehension · worry · agitation · antsy · twitchy · jumpy
waiting
Remaining in expectation
- impatienceIntolerance of delay
- anticipationState of awaiting something
- boredomWeary disinterest from monotony
restlessness · idleness · inactivity · expectation · countdown · limbo
- fidgetingfidgeting, fidget, tapping, fiddle, finger tapping
- hand gestureswave, point, beckon, clap, snap
- idle actionsfidgeting, waiting, daydreaming, lounging, pacing
- fiddlingfiddling, fiddle, fiddler, fiddle tune, fiddle tunes
twiddlingworking
In active function
accomplishing · operating · controlling · crafting · building
twiddlingachieving
Reaching a goal
accomplishing · producing · contributing · completing · finishing
- twiddling thumbsGesture of impatient boredom
- twiddling one's thumbsIdle fidgeting while waiting
- thumb twiddlingIdle hand gesture
twiddle, twiddled, twiddler, twiddles, tweedle, twiddlers, tweedled