fiddlesticks

Everyday

1. (mild, old-fashioned) a gentle exclamation of annoyance, used instead of a swear word: «Oh, fiddlesticks!» tree →
2. (old-fashioned) nonsense: «Fiddlesticks! That's not true.» tree →
3. (literal, rare) the bow used to play a fiddle (violin). tree →

In the lessons

A very mild, quaint, often funny stand-in for swearing, used by grandparents, cartoon characters and people who don't want to swear in front of children. Old-fashioned, humorous, UK and US.

Examples

• Oh, fiddlesticks, I've dropped my glasses again. tree →
• "Fiddlesticks!" cried Granny when the cake sank. tree →
• Fiddlesticks, it's raining and I forgot my brolly. tree →
• "You're too old to climb trees." "Fiddlesticks!" said Grandad. tree →
• The cartoon mouse squeaked, "Fiddlesticks!" tree →
• Miss Brown says "fiddlesticks" instead of swearing. tree →
• Fiddlesticks! I've missed the bus. tree →
• "Fiddlesticks" sounds so silly that everyone laughed. tree →

Note

Trap: it is not rude at all; it sounds funny and old. It can mean «nonsense» when someone disagrees. Plain words: «oh no», «damn», «rubbish».