E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Fiddle About (To).
To fiddle about a thing means to “play” business. To fiddle with one’s fingers is to move them about as a fiddler moves his fingers up and down the fiddle-strings.
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“Mere trifling, or unprofitable fidding about nothing.”—Barrow: Sermons, vol. i. sermon 7.
