Was bedeutet das? “oder wie er an seinen füßen popelt”
I don’t know how to literally translate this into English. Popeln means to do something disgusting with your fingers (e. g. in der Nase popeln). Maybe “to fiddle” would work?
With the prefixes auf- and herum- the verb’s meaning changes a little, though.
Aufpopeln (fumble sth. open) or herumpopeln (fumble around) are used when you’re having difficulties like opening a lock or something. So, still something you do with your hands, something rather tedious, but not disgusting.