fiddle-de-dee

or fid·dle·de·dee, fid·dle·dee·dee

[ fid-l-di-dee ]

interjection

1. (used to express irritation, dismissive indifference, or scorn.)

fiddle-de-dee

/ ˌfɪdəldɪˈdiː /

interjection

1. rare.
   an exclamation of impatience, disbelief, or disagreement

Word History and Origins

Origin of fiddle-de-dee¹

1775–85; fiddle + -de- (reduplication prefix) + (Tweedle)dee (in obsolete sense “fiddler”)

Example Sentences

A few days afterwards I received a letter from Mr. Helmore, in which he said, "I am afraid 'Charlie' is already tired of playing at postman, for to all our questions about you last Thursday, he would only rap out, 'Fiddle-de-dee.'"

From Project Gutenberg

The return message from them which "Charlie" spelled out for us on the second Tuesday, was: "Tell her London is a desert without her," to which I emphatically, if not elegantly, answered, "Fiddle-de-dee!"

From Project Gutenberg

There were these at Stirhampton, men who were rude and said it was all fiddle-de-dee when Mrs. Fretchett said it was scandalum magnatum--a plain and unmannerly contradiction--and made themselves otherwise unpleasant.

From Project Gutenberg

FIDDLE-DE-DEE, fiddle-de-dee, The fly shall marry the humble-bee; They went to church and married was she, The fly has married the humble-bee.

From Project Gutenberg

If, now that all is not well with her, I attempt to repudiate the solemn engagements into which I then entered----" "Fiddle-de-dee! solemn engagements indeed!

From Project Gutenberg