Dictionary

twiddle one's thumbs en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. to circle one's thumbs around one another, usually with the fingers interlaced, usually done idly while waiting or bored
2. (idiomatic) To wait or dawdle; to accomplish nothing useful or lack a useful occupation.
   • He twiddled his thumbs for almost a week while he waited for somebody to set up his computer.

Forms

Synonyms

bide one's time (wait) · sit on one's hands · fool around (dawdle) · hold one's horses · loaf about · lallygag

Translations (27)

sv rulla tummarna (to circle one's thumbs around one another) · de Däumchen drehen (to wait or dawdle) · sv rulla tummarna (to wait or dawdle) · az lülə qurutmaq (to wait or dawdle) · uk жува́ти со́плі (to wait or dawdle) · hu malmozik (to circle one's thumbs around one another) · fr se tourner les pouces (to wait or dawdle) · uk бити байдики (to wait or dawdle) · fi pyöritellä peukaloitansa (to wait or dawdle) · it girarsi i pollici (to circle one's thumbs around one another) · cs točit palci (to circle one's thumbs around one another) · nl duimendraaien (to circle one's thumbs around one another) · de Däumchen drehen (to circle one's thumbs around one another) · pl siedzieć z założonymi rękami (to wait or dawdle) · da trille tommelfingre (to circle one's thumbs around one another) · ru сиде́ь сложа́ ру́ки (to wait or dawdle) · ro tăia frunză la câini (to wait or dawdle) · cs lelkovat (to wait or dawdle) · ro freca menta (to wait or dawdle) · it girarsi i pollici (to wait or dawdle) · hu malmozik (to wait or dawdle) · da trille tommelfingre (to wait or dawdle) · nl duimendraaien (to wait or dawdle) · ru би́ть баклу́ши (to wait or dawdle) · hu malmozik az ujjaival (to circle one's thumbs around one another) · pl wlec się (to wait or dawdle) · fr se tourner les pouces (to circle one's thumbs around one another)