idle

i|dle¹ [ˈaıdl] adj

[: Old English; Origin: idel]

1.) not working or producing anything

≠ ↑busy

▪ I cannot afford to leave the land lying idle .

▪ The whole team stood idle , waiting for the mechanic.

▪ The workers have been idle for the last six months.

2.) not serious, or not done with any definite intention

▪ She was not a woman to make idle threats .

idle chatter/talk/gossip etc

▪ It was only from idle curiosity that she went into the barn.

3.) lazy

▪ Go and wake up that idle brother of yours.

4.) it is idle to do sth

it is not worth doing something, because nothing will be achieved

▪ It would be idle to deny that great progress was made.

5.) the idle rich

rich people who do not have to work

>idleness n [U]

>idly adv

▪ They sat around, chatting idly.

▪ I cannot stand idly by and let him take the blame.

idle ²

idle² v

1.)

if an engine idles, it runs slowly while the vehicle, machine etc is not moving

▪ He flicked a switch and let the boat idle.

2.) [I]

to spend time doing nothing

▪ Sometimes he went for a walk; sometimes he just idled.

3.) [T] [i]AmE

to stop using a factory or stop providing work for your workers, especially temporarily

= ↑shut down

▪ The company has reduced its workforce and indefinitely idled a number of its US plants.

idle away [idle sth<=>away] phr v

to spend time in a relaxed way, doing nothing

▪ They idled their time away in the pub.