twiddle
Related to twiddle: twiddle thumbs
be twiddling (one's) thumbs
To be waiting idly because one cannot take action or has nothing to do at the moment. Although the phrase refers to an actual gesture (in which one's fingers are interlaced and each thumb is brought over the other in succession), the phrase is usually used figuratively. I was twiddling my thumbs and minding my own business when the security guard asked me if I had permission to be there.
See also: thumb, twiddle
twiddle (one's) thumbs
To wait idly because one cannot take action or has nothing to do at the moment. Although the phrase refers to an actual movement of the hand (in which one's fingers are interlaced and each thumb is brought over the other in succession), the phrase is usually used figuratively. I'm just twiddling my thumbs here in the ER, waiting for someone to give me an update on Claire's condition.
See also: thumb, twiddle
twiddle with (someone)
To play with something in one's hands idly, especially by turning it over or around repeatedly; to fiddle with something. She has this annoying habit of twiddling with her necklace whenever she's speaking. Stop twiddling with that cathode, or you'll end up breaking it!
See also: twiddle
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
twiddle one's thumbs
Fig. to pass the time by twirling one's thumbs. What am I supposed to do while waiting for you? Sit here and twiddle my thumbs? Don't sit around twiddling your thumbs. Get busy!
See also: thumb, twiddle
twiddle with something
to play with something; to play with something, using one's fingers; to fiddle with something. I asked Jason to stop twiddling with the pencils. Someone is twiddling with the stereo controls.
See also: twiddle
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
twiddle one's thumbs
Be bored or idle, as in There I sat for three hours, twiddling my thumbs, while he made call after call. This expression alludes to the habit of idly turning one's thumbs about one another during a period of inactivity. [Mid-1800s]
See also: thumb, twiddle
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
be twiddling your thumbs
If you are twiddling your thumbs, you are waiting with nothing useful to do. I'd far rather be cleaning than twiddling my thumbs waiting for the boys to wake up. There is a lot of team work too and no one is ever left twiddling their thumbs.
See also: thumb, twiddle
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
twiddle your thumbs
be bored or idle because you have nothing to do.See also: thumb, twiddle
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
ˌtwiddle your ˈthumbs
(informal) do nothing while you are waiting for something to happen: I had to sit at home twiddling my thumbs, waiting for the phone to ring.If you twiddle your thumbs, you move them around each other while your fingers are joined together.
See also: thumb, twiddle
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
twiddle one’s thumbs
tv. to do nothing; to wait nervously, playing with one’s fingers. I sat twiddling my thumbs while you were out doing I don’t know what all!
See also: thumb, twiddle
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
twiddle (one's) thumbs
To do little or nothing; be idle.
See also: thumb, twiddle
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
twiddle one's thumbs, to
To be bored; to be idle. The habit of idly turning one’s thumbs about each other during a period of enforced inactivity gave rise to this cliché, which began life in the mid-nineteenth century. “You’d have all the world do nothing . . . but twiddle its thumbs,” wrote Douglas Jerrold (Mrs. Caudle’s Curtain Lectures, 1846).
See also: twiddle
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- be twiddling (one's) thumbs
- be twiddling your thumbs
- Heinz
- Heinz 57
- Heinz 57 (variety)
- Heinz 57 variety
- 57
- a penny for them
- (as) sure as eggs (is eggs)
- sure as eggs is eggs