twiddle

Universal Words verb, noun verb (BrE) ~ (with) sth to twist or turn sth with your fingers often because you are nervous or bored: [V] He twiddled with the radio knob until he found the right programme. * [VN] She was twiddling the ring on her finger. IDIOMS twiddle your thumbs 1 to move your thumbs around each other with your fingers joined together, because you are bored or waiting for sth 2 to do nothing while you are waiting for sth to happen noun 1 (BrE) a twist or turn: a twiddle of the knob 2 a decorative twist in a pattern, piece of music, etc: twiddles on the clarinet