fuddle-duddle

[ fuhd-l-duhd-l ]

verb (used without object)

, Canadian.

, fud·dle-dud·dled, fud·dle-dud·dling.

1. to depart; be off.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fuddle-duddle¹

First recorded in 1970–75; used by Pierre Trudeau ( def ) in his defense against accusations of muttering obscenities in Parliament by claiming that he had actually muttered a harmless phrase that possibly was fuddle-duddle; apparently extension of fuddle, after fuddy-duddy, though sense is unaccounted for

Example Sentences

He clashed with the press and with protesters, and lobbed an obscenity at Conservative M.P.s, in what became known as the “fuddle-duddle” affair.

From The New Yorker