twiddle one's thumbs verb2 •to circle one's thumbs around one another, usually with the fingers interlaced, usually done idly while waiting or bored •To wait or dawdle; to accomplish nothing useful or lack a useful occupation.He twiddled his thumbs for almost a week while he waited for somebody to set up his computer. formstwiddled one's thumbs · twiddling one's thumbs · twiddles one's thumbs