fidget
fidget — verb
1. to keep moving parts of your body in small, restless ways, often without thinkin
to keep moving parts of your body in small, restless ways, often without thinking, especially when you feel anxious, bored, or uneasy and need to remain still
Lan fidgeted in her seat during the three-hour exam.
fidget + in [seat] — location of the movement
Ziad nervously fidgeted with the strap of his backpack while waiting for the interview.
fidget with [object] — specifying what is handled
The children began to fidget as the long ceremony continued.
Dahlia fidgeted with her pen, spinning it between her fingers while listening to the lecture.
Papa told Aisha to stop fidgeting and sit still at the dinner table.
- fiddle
more specific to handling small objects with the fingers; 'fiddle with a necklace'
- squirm
suggests the whole body twisting or writhing, often from discomfort or embarrassment
- twitch
a sudden, sharp, involuntary movement of a muscle or body part, not necessarily repeated
- wriggle
small twisting movements of the body, often used for children or animals
- sit still
the opposite action — remaining motionless
文法句型
fidget + adverb/preposition
fidget with + noun
用法筆記
Often used with 'with' when specifying what the person is handling, e.g., 'fidget with a pen'. Also common with location adverbs: 'fidget in one's seat', 'fidget on the chair'.
常見錯誤
fidget — noun
1. a small, repeated movement of the body, hands, or feet, often made without think
a small, repeated movement of the body, hands, or feet, often made without thinking because of nervousness or boredom
Niran gave a small fidget with his shoulders and then looked down.
fidget + with [body part]
Lucía tried to hide her fidgets, but her tapping foot gave away her anxiety.
Each fidget of the child's hands drew the teacher's gentle attention.
Cole's constant fidgets during the meeting made it hard for others to concentrate.
文法句型
a fidget + of [body part]
possessive + fidgets
2. a small object that you hold and play with in your hands, made to help you focus
a small object that you hold and play with in your hands, made to help you focus your mind, feel calmer, or use up restless energy
Felipe bought a small fidget to help him focus during online classes.
fidget for focus
The teacher let students keep a fidget on their desk to help them concentrate.
Many fidgets come shaped like cubes with buttons on each side.
Ilan said his fidget spinner helped him stay calm during long train journeys.
- stress toy
less common but more explicit about the purpose of relieving stress
- worry stone
a specific type of smooth stone rubbed with the thumb; narrower in meaning
- sensory toy
broader category including fidgets; often used in educational or therapeutic contexts
文法句型
a fidget
fidget + noun (as modifier)
常見錯誤
3. a person who cannot keep still and frequently makes small, restless movements, e
a person who cannot keep still and frequently makes small, restless movements, especially out of nervousness or boredom
As a child, Andrei was a regular fidget who could barely sit through dinner.
The camp counsellor gently took the little fidget aside for a quiet activity.
little fidget — affectionate use with children
Lakshmi called her brother a fidget as he bounced his knee under the table.
The class had one fidget who needed frequent movement breaks throughout the day.
- restless person
neutral and formal; lacks the informal, slightly affectionate quality of 'fidget'
- squirmer
highly informal and less common; emphasizes wriggling movement
文法句型
a fidget
be a fidget
用法筆記
Informal in register; carries a gentle, affectionate tone when applied to children. For formal writing, prefer 'a restless person' or 'someone who cannot sit still'.
4. a condition or feeling of restlessness, in which someone cannot stop making smal
a condition or feeling of restlessness, in which someone cannot stop making small movements or feels a strong urge to move
After two hours in the waiting room, the whole family was in a terrible fidget.
in a terrible fidget — state of restlessness
The long car ride gave everyone a bad case of the fidgets.
Ziad always gets the fidgets before an important presentation.
Lan felt a growing fidget in her legs and knew she had to stand up.
- restlessness
more formal and general; covers both physical and mental agitation
- unease
focuses on the emotional feeling rather than the physical movements
- agitation
stronger, suggesting anxiety or distress combined with movement
- calm
the opposite state — being still and relaxed
文法句型
in a fidget
the fidgets
get the fidgets
用法筆記
Often appears in the fixed phrases 'in a fidget' or 'get the fidgets', which describe a temporary state rather than a personality trait. 'The fidgets' is always plural in form even though it refers to a single condition.