fiddly bits

Meanings

1. 1nounpluralinformalBritish

   The small, awkward parts of something that are difficult and annoying to handle or do.

   Grammar: Always plural; takes a plural verb: the fiddly bits are hard to fit.

   Patterns

   • the fiddly bits of something
   • deal with the fiddly bits

   I enjoy building the model, but I hate dealing with all the fiddly bits at the end.

   The fiddly bits of the software are the settings that nobody can find.

   She left the fiddly bits of the report to the last minute.

2. 2nounpluralinformal

   Small, detailed decorative parts of an object or design.

   Grammar: Used especially for decoration or detail that is small and hard to make.

   Patterns

   • add the fiddly bits
   • the fiddly bits on something

   The dress was plain except for some fiddly bits around the collar.

   He spent hours painting the fiddly bits on the miniature figure.

Common combinations

the fiddly bits of something

The fiddly bits of the job take the longest.

deal with the fiddly bits

You can deal with the fiddly bits later.

all the fiddly bits

She assembled all the fiddly bits without instructions.

leave the fiddly bits to someone

Leave the fiddly bits to me.

Synonyms and how they differ

details

More neutral and general; 'fiddly bits' stresses that the details are annoying to handle.

odds and ends

Refers to small, miscellaneous items rather than difficult parts of a task.

Word family

fiddly adjective

Difficult to do or handle because of small parts or fine detail.

fiddle verb

To keep touching or adjusting something with your fingers.

Commonly confused: fiddly bits or fiddly bits?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “fiddly bits”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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