fiddle around

English

Verb

fiddle around (third-person singular simple present fiddles around, present participle fiddling around, simple past and past participle fiddled around)

1. (intransitive, or transitive with "with") To toy or play (with something) in an idle, fidgety, aimless or unstructured way; to mess around (with); to muck around (with).

   Stop fiddling around with those matches before you set the place on fire.

2. (intransitive, or transitive with "with") To tinker (with): to make small adjustments or improvements (to something), especially in an experimental or unskilled manner.

   I've been fiddling around all morning, trying to get this old lawnmower to work.