Definitions
- Describing playing with something in a nervous or restless way. - Referring to making small, often unnecessary, adjustments to something. - Talking about manipulating or tampering with something in a sneaky or dishonest way.
- Referring to interfering in someone else's business or affairs without permission. - Describing getting involved in a situation that does not concern oneself. - Talking about trying to change or influence something that is not one's responsibility.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words involve interfering with something.
- 2Both words can have negative connotations.
- 3Both words can refer to actions that are unwanted or unnecessary.
- 4Both words can be used to describe behavior that is intrusive or annoying.
What is the difference?
- 1Intent: Fiddled implies a harmless or playful action, while meddle suggests an intention to interfere or manipulate.
- 2Object: Fiddled refers to playing with an object, while meddle refers to interfering with a situation or person.
- 3Connotation: Fiddled can have a positive or neutral connotation, while meddle is almost always negative.
- 4Scope: Fiddled is usually limited to minor adjustments or actions, while meddle can involve significant interference or manipulation.
- 5Responsibility: Fiddled may be done by the owner of the object, while meddle is always done without permission or authority.
Remember this!
Fiddled and meddle both involve interfering with something, but they differ in their intent, object, connotation, scope, and responsibility. Fiddled implies a harmless or playful action of playing with an object, while meddle suggests an intention to interfere or manipulate a situation or person without permission or authority.
