こねくり返かえす

godan verb (-su)

tamper with; mess with; fiddle with

Colloquial and somewhat negative; implies repeatedly handling, altering, or interfering with something in a meddlesome or careless way. Often used for physical objects, documents, settings, or abstract things like plans.

See also: こね返す

• 誰だれかが私わたしの机つくえの上うえの書しょ類るいをこねくり返かえしたみたいだ。

  It looks like someone messed with the papers on my desk.

• 設せっ定ていをこねくり返かえしすぎて、元もとに戻もどせなくなった。

  I fiddled with the settings too much and can't get them back to normal.

godan verb (-su)

go on endlessly; keep rehashing

Used when someone keeps talking about the same thing, rehashing an argument, or dragging out a discussion without resolution. Often carries a nuance of annoyance or pointlessness.

• 彼かれは同おなじ話はなしをいつまでもこねくり返かえしている。

  He keeps rehashing the same story endlessly.

• 会かい議ぎで細こまかい点てんをこねくり返かえすだけで、結けつ論ろんが出でない。

  They just go on endlessly about minor points in the meeting and never reach a conclusion.