Definitions
- Describing a task that requires fine motor skills and attention to detail. - Referring to something that is small and intricate, making it difficult to handle or manipulate. - Talking about a process that is complicated and time-consuming due to its many small parts or steps.
- Referring to a situation that is difficult to navigate or solve due to its complexity or ambiguity. - Describing a task that requires skill, experience, or cleverness to accomplish. - Talking about something that is deceptive or misleading, making it hard to understand or predict.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe difficulty or challenge in some way.
- 2Both words can refer to tasks or situations that require skill or attention.
- 3Both words can be used to describe something that is not straightforward or easy.
What is the difference?
- 1Scope: Fiddly typically refers to something that is small or intricate, while tricky can refer to a broader range of difficulties.
- 2Cause: Fiddly implies that the difficulty is due to the physical nature of the task or object, while tricky can be caused by various factors such as complexity, ambiguity, or deception.
- 3Solution: Fiddly suggests that the difficulty can be overcome with patience and attention to detail, while tricky may require more creativity or problem-solving skills.
- 4Connotation: Fiddly has a neutral connotation, while tricky can have a negative connotation implying deceit or manipulation.
- 5Usage: Fiddly is more commonly used in British English, while tricky is more common in American English.
Remember this!
Fiddly and tricky both describe difficulty or challenge, but they differ in scope, cause, solution, connotation, and usage. Fiddly refers to something that is small or intricate, requiring fine motor skills and attention to detail. Tricky can refer to a broader range of difficulties, caused by complexity, ambiguity, or deception, requiring creativity or problem-solving skills to overcome.
