twiddles
v. (心不在焉地)捻弄( twiddle的第三人称单数 )
If you twiddle something, you twist it or turn it quickly with your fingers.
He twiddled a knob on the dashboard...
他转动着仪表板上的一个旋钮。
She had sat there twiddling nervously with the clasp of her handbag.
她坐在那里紧张地摆弄着手提包的扣钩。
So are the linguistic twiddles.
作者对文字的拿捏也很有意思.