twirl one's thumbs

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• twirl one's thumbs — To twiddle one s thumbs • • • Main Entry: ↑twirl …   Useful english dictionary

• twirl — /twɜl / (say twerl) verb (t) 1. to cause to rotate rapidly; spin; whirl; swing circularly. 2. to twiddle: to twirl one s thumbs. 3. to wind idly, as about something. –verb (i) 4. to rotate rapidly; whirl. 5. to turn quickly so as to face or point …  

• twiddle — [twid′ l] vt. twiddled, twiddling [prob. < TW(IST) or TW(IRL) + (D)IDDLE] to twirl or play with lightly or idly vi. 1. to toy or trifle with some object 2. to be busy about trifles 3 …   English World dictionary

• 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;… …   Etymology dictionary

• twiddle — twiddler, n. /twid l/, v., twiddled, twiddling, n. v.t. 1. to turn about or play with lightly or idly, esp. with the fingers; twirl. v.i. 2. to play or trifle idly with something; fiddle. 3. to turn about lightly; twirl. 4. twiddle one s thumbs,… …   Universalium

• twiddle — [c]/ˈtwɪdl / (say twidl) verb (twiddled, twiddling) –verb (t) 1. to turn round and round, especially with the fingers. –verb (i) 2. to play with something idly, as by touching or handling. 3. to turn round and round; twirl. –noun 4. the act of… …  

• twiddle — twid•dle [[t]ˈtwɪd l[/t]] v. dled, dling, n. 1) to turn about or play with lightly or idly, esp. with the fingers; twirl 2) to play or trifle idly with something; fiddle 3) to turn about lightly; twirl 4) the act of twiddling; turn; twirl •… …   From formal English to slang

• twiddle — ► VERB ▪ play or fiddle with (something) in a purposeless or nervous way. ► NOUN 1) an act of twiddling. 2) a rapid or intricate series of musical notes. ● twiddle one s thumbs Cf. ↑twiddle one s thumbs …   English terms dictionary

• twiddler — twiddle ► VERB ▪ play or fiddle with (something) in a purposeless or nervous way. ► NOUN 1) an act of twiddling. 2) a rapid or intricate series of musical notes. ● twiddle one s thumbs Cf. ↑twiddle one s thumbs …   English terms dictionary

• twiddly — twiddle ► VERB ▪ play or fiddle with (something) in a purposeless or nervous way. ► NOUN 1) an act of twiddling. 2) a rapid or intricate series of musical notes. ● twiddle one s thumbs Cf. ↑twiddle one s thumbs …   English terms dictionary

• twiddle — v. & n. v. 1 tr. & (foll. by with etc.) intr. twirl, adjust, or play randomly or idly. 2 intr. move twirlingly. n. 1 an act of twiddling. 2 a twirled mark or sign. Phrases and idioms: twiddle one s thumbs 1 make them rotate round each other. 2… …   Useful english dictionary