# fiddle

/ˈfɪdəɫ/ (US) · /fˈɪdəl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fiddle
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a violin, especially when someone plays it for folk or country music. It can also mean a dishonest trick or a way to cheat the system.

For teachers: a violin, particularly in the context of folk, country, or traditional music. In British English, it frequently refers to a fraudulent scheme or a dishonest manipulation of accounts.

## Examples

- He plays the fiddle in a local folk band.
- The auditor discovered a clever fiddle in the company's expenses that had gone unnoticed for years.
- While the instrument is physically identical to a violin, the performer's technique and rhythmic drive define it as a fiddle within the traditional Appalachian style.

## Usage notes

- Often used in the idiom 'fit as a fiddle' to mean very healthy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.