verb
diddle
DIH-duhl
Diddle (verb) means to cheat or swindle someone, especially out of money. Example: “The contractor diddled him out of a few hundred pounds.”
verb
1
To cheat or swindle someone, especially out of money.
"The contractor diddled him out of a few hundred pounds."
"'No one ever got rich being honest,' the father said. 'Customers are there to be diddled.'"
— Roald Dahl, Matilda (1988)
2
To waste time doing nothing productive; to fiddle around.
"Stop diddling and get the report finished."
How to use diddle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo cheat someone in a small way, or to waste time fooling around instead of working.
When to use it
Informal.
Common pairings
diddle someone out of money
diddle around
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Word forms
- Plural
- diddles
- Third person singular
- diddles
- Past tense
- diddled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The contractor _____ him out of a few hundred pounds.
Etymology
Traces back to dialectal English words for "to trick" and "to totter," possibly reinforced by the swindling character Jeremy Diddler in an early-1800s play.
Class of 1800
diddle joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for diddle
See all rhymes for diddle →Frequently asked questions
What does “diddle” mean?
The word “diddle” means to cheat or swindle someone, especially out of money. In plain terms, to cheat someone in a small way, or to waste time fooling around instead of working.
How do you pronounce “diddle”?
“Diddle” is pronounced DIH-duhl (/ˈdɪdəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “diddle” in a sentence?
Here is “diddle” used in a sentence: “The contractor diddled him out of a few hundred pounds.”
What is another word for “diddle”?
Words with a similar meaning to “diddle” include take for a ride, sleep with, play with oneself, lollygag, reel and stagger.
What part of speech is “diddle”?
“Diddle” is a verb.
Where does the word “diddle” come from?
The word “diddle” dates back to around 1800. Traces back to dialectal English words for "to trick" and "to totter," possibly reinforced by the swindling character Jeremy Diddler in an early-1800s play.
How many meanings does “diddle” have?
“Diddle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to cheat or swindle someone, especially out of money.
