手て慰なぐさみ

noun

fingering an object to kill time; amusing oneself; diversion

Refers to handling or playing with something small to pass the time, or a light pastime. Often implies idle hands.

• 退たい屈くつで、机つくえの上うえのペンを手て慰なぐさみにいじっていた。

  Bored, I was fiddling with a pen on the desk as a way to kill time.

• 編あみ物ものは彼かの女じょの手て慰なぐさみだ。

  Knitting is her diversion.

noun

gambling

A less common, somewhat old-fashioned or literary term for gambling, often with a nuance of casual or idle betting.

• 昔むかしは手て慰なぐさみに花はな札ふだをしたものだ。

  In the old days, people used to play hanafuda as a light gambling pastime.