fiddle-faddle

noun

fid·​dle-fad·​dle ˈfi-dᵊl-ˌfa-dᵊl How to pronounce fiddle-faddle (audio)
: nonsense
often used as an interjection

Examples of fiddle-faddle in a Sentence

a grandmother who routinely pooh-poohed the advice of the so-called experts in child care as so much fiddle-faddle
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Maybe this premise sounds like pseudo-philosophical fiddle-faddle. David Sims, The Atlantic, 22 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

reduplication of fiddle (fiddlesticks)

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fiddle-faddle was in 1577

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fiddle-faddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fiddle-faddle. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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