tinker with

tinker with (something)

1. To make unprofessional or experimental attempts at repairing or improving something. I've been tinkering with the washing machine all afternoon, but nothing I do seems to fix it. Bud likes to tinker with old car engines and see if he can make them run better than they used to.
2. To test or use something in order to learn more about it. I'm tinkering with a different platform for my blog, and I can't decide if I like it or not.
See also: tinker
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

tinker with

Try to repair, work aimlessly or unskillfully with, as in He tinkered with the engine all day but it still wouldn't start. This idiom, first recorded in 1658, alludes to working as a tinker, that is, mending metal utensils.
See also: tinker
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

tinker with

v.
To make unskilled or experimental efforts at repairing or improving something: I tinkered with the engine, hoping to discover the trouble.
See also: tinker
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • tinker with (something)
  • tinker around
  • tinker around with (something)
  • if that's not (something), (then) I don't know what is
  • have no use for
  • have no use for (someone or something)
  • have no use for somebody/something
  • How much is (something)?
  • if it kills (one)
  • if it kills you
References in periodicals archive
Artificial intelligence (AI) needs people who tinker with data, who tinker with rules, who tinker with measurements, and who can do things others are not comfortable doing.
Artificial intelligence needs new tinkers
Mechanics tinker with automobiles to tweak a problem.
Creating the curious classrooms
When the ECHO presented Mr Tinker with a copy of the document, he said "that has got nothing to do with me".
TV chef in drug chat on police bug; Thursday, December 19, 2013 .... Masterchef star was not arrested or charged
Olivia Gadsby (left) and Indya Masser, both aged four, feed three-week-old Tinker with a little help from farmer David Harris, and (right) teacher Carol Rees with Indya and Tinker.
Tinker & co bring taste of spring to classroom
I confess: I tinker with the buttons on my computer.
Technology Q&A: add custom footers to spreadsheets ... Retrieve your Quick Launch Taskbar ... Cope with Windows XP folder amnesia ... Now you can print the contents of a folder
As humans begin to tinker with the genetic code they are in effect assuming godlike powers.
Merchants of Immortality: Chasing the Dream of Human Life Extension