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Fiddle-faddling

“Fiddle-faddling” 形容在无关紧要的小事上磨蹭、瞎折腾,带有明显贬义与不耐烦语气,如 stop fiddle-faddling and decide(别磨蹭了,快做决定)。属于较老派的口语表达,现代仍偶见于英式或幽默文体。

  1. “We spent an hour fiddle-faddling with font sizes instead of writing the report.” (我们花了一小时折腾字号,报告一个字没写。)
  2. “Stop fiddle-faddling in the kitchen and set the table.” (别在厨房瞎忙了,去摆桌子。)
  3. “The committee kept fiddle-faddling over minor wording changes.” (委员会一直在 minor 措辞上纠缠不休。)

“Fiddle-faddle” 是 16 世纪起的叠韵戏谑词,fiddle 与 faddle 皆含“瞎弄、无聊琐事”之意,类似 fiddlesticks,无严肃词源。

复合叠韵词 “fiddle-faddle” 加 “-ing” 表示正在瞎忙的状态;整体不宜按拉丁词根拆解。

在英式家庭口语与老式小说里较常见,传达对“小题大做、拖拖拉拉”的不耐烦;美式日常更常说 fussing 或 dithering。

  • 固定搭配: “stop fiddle-faddling” (别磨蹭了), “fiddle-faddling over details” (在细节上纠缠)
  • 原形: fiddle-faddle
  • 近义口语: fuss, dither

fiddle(瞎弄)+ faddle(胡闹)叠在一起再加 -ing:正在无聊琐事里瞎忙活,就是 fiddle-faddling。

“While he was fiddle-faddling with tie knots, the taxi arrived and everyone else was already downstairs.” (他还在领带结上磨蹭时,出租车到了,其他人都已下楼。)