Fiddle-de-dee
/ˌfɪdəl də ˈdiː/noun
An interjection expressing dismissal, disbelief, or playful nonsense.
Did you know?The phrase is best understood as a rhyming, musical formula rather than a sentence with a recoverable literal meaning; its force comes from sound and performance.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
English
fiddle
“A bowed stringed instrument, or the act of playing one; the word’s deeper origin is uncertain but is related to European terms for similar instruments.”
17th Century
English
fiddle-de-dee
“A playful or dismissive rhyming expression, probably formed from fiddle with nonsense syllables.”
18th Century
English
fiddle-de-dee
“An interjection used to reject something as foolish, trivial, or unworthy of serious attention.”
19th Century
English
fiddle-de-dee
“A familiar comic and theatrical phrase, appearing in humorous speech, songs, and literary dialogue.”
Modern English
English
fiddle-de-dee
“A playful exclamation meaning roughly “nonsense,” “rubbish,” or “don’t be ridiculous.””
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