Quiz: "fiddling" or "twiddling"?

The correct answer is: twiddling

"Until the new project starts, I'm just sitting around twiddling my thumbs."

If you are twiddling your thumbs you are passing the time by rotating your thumbs around each other. We can use this expression to show that we have nothing important to do and that we are bored.

twiddle one's thumbs = Däumchen drehen

More idioms with "thumb"

be under someone's thumb

This means to be under someone's control and management (jmdn. unter der Fuchtel haben)
Example: "Judy’s really got her team under her thumb."

to give the thumbs up (or down)

This means to give someone a sign of approval ((jmdm.) grünes (rotes) Licht geben)
Example: "The board gave the thumbs up for a redesign of the company website."

Try another:

"During a recession, more consumers are likely to ________."

• heckle
  
• haggle