The word fiddle has two main meanings that share a playful spirit:

1. A fiddle is another name for a violin, especially in folk, country, or bluegrass music. While the instrument is physically the same, musicians often say they play fiddle when performing lively, toe-tapping tunes at a square dance or hootenanny, and violin when performing classical music in an orchestra. A fiddler might saw energetically at the strings to create bouncing rhythms that make people want to clap along.
2. To fiddle with something means to touch, adjust, or toy with it repeatedly, often without any clear purpose. You might fiddle with a pencil during class, spinning it between your fingers while thinking. A mechanic might fiddle with an engine, making small adjustments to get it running smoothly. Sometimes fiddling helps you think or solve a problem, but other times you're just keeping your hands busy.

The phrase fiddle around means to waste time on unimportant things instead of focusing on what matters. If you're supposed to be doing homework but you keep fiddling with your phone, you're fiddling around instead of getting your work done.