Fiddle-Faddle
/ˈfɪdəl ˌfædəl/noun
Trivial or foolish activity, talk, or nonsense.
Did you know?The expression belongs to a long tradition of reduplicative English words, where rhythmic repetition—like hocus-pocus or helter-skelter—adds a sense of triviality, disorder, or mockery.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic, before 500 CE
Proto-Germanic
*fiðulō
“A stringed musical instrument; the probable ancestral source of English fiddle, though its deeper origin is uncertain.”
Old English, c. 700–1100
Old English
fiðele
“A fiddle or bowed string instrument.”
Middle English, 14th Century
Middle English
fidele / fithele
“A fiddle; the spelling and pronunciation varied as the word developed.”
16th Century
English
fiddle-faddle
“A reduplicative expression associated with trifling, fussing, or meaningless talk; its exact formation is uncertain.”
17th Century
English
fiddle-faddle
“Nonsense, idle chatter, or pointless activity.”
Modern English
English
fiddle-faddle
“Trivial or foolish business; nonsense.”