fiddle-faddle
Nonsense, fuss, or trifling busywork.
Also called fiddle faddle.
Updated September 21, 2026
fiddle-faddle pronunciation
/FID-ul FAD-ul/
Meaning
Dismissive talk for empty chatter and little nothing-jobs that waste time. Somebody is full of fiddle-faddle when they are spinning silly stories or puttering instead of working. You can also snap "Fiddle-faddle!" like fiddlesticks when you are done hearing it. Rural folks keep the playful sound and the sharp brush-off.
How folks use it
- “Quit that fiddle-faddle and help me load the hay.”
- “Fiddle-faddle! That rumor ain't worth repeating.”
Origin and etymology
English reduplication from the late 1500s, built on fiddle plus obsolete faddle (to trifle). Etymonline dates the noun sense for trifles to the 1570s and the verb for talking nonsense to the 1630s. It traveled into American country speech with other nonsense words like flapdoodle and folderol.
Frequently asked questions
Can fiddle-faddle be a verb?
Yes. To fiddle-faddle is to fuss with trifles or talk nonsense instead of doing real work.