Fiddle-faddle

Fiddle-faddle refers to trivial or nonsensical talk, writing, or activity; it implies something frivolous, often lacking seriousness or purpose. It denotes a waste of time on unimportant matters, often characterized by empty or foolish chatter. This word can also describe the content itself – the meaningless words or actions. It suggests a lack of substance and can be used to dismiss something as unimportant or silly. Essentially, it's a pejorative term for idle amusement or inconsequential pursuits.

Fiddle-faddle meaning with examples

• The committee meeting devolved into utter fiddle-faddle, with members arguing about the color of the stationary instead of the actual budget. The whole affair was a complete waste of everyone's time and offered no resolution. The chair finally had to end the meeting to avoid further unnecessary debates.
• Sarah became increasingly annoyed by the endless stream of fiddle-faddle emanating from her coworker's desk. The constant gossiping and off-topic conversations were distracting and making it difficult to get any work done. She felt the need to ask him to stay focused.
• Critics dismissed the new play as theatrical fiddle-faddle, full of empty gestures and shallow dialogue that failed to engage the audience. The reviews pointed out the lack of plot development. Most audience members agreed, feeling their time and money was completely wasted.
• The politician’s speech was filled with so much fiddle-faddle and vague promises that the public barely paid attention to the information in the speech. They knew this was likely a way to not address any real topics. It proved that his focus was not where it should have been.
• After a long day of hard work, the children were indulging in a little bit of fiddle-faddle, playing silly games and laughing hysterically. Their parents could smile and laugh, and appreciate a small break of chaos before going to sleep for the night.