idle
gb/ˈaɪdəl/ us/ˈaɪdəl/
B1
الإنجليزية
~ 9100
المعاني
0 معنى
adjective
B1
property
1
Not working or being used
Not working or not being used at that moment.
نمط الاستخدام:
[someone/something] is idle
خطأ شائع:
Learners sometimes confuse "idle" with "idol". "Idle" means not working or not active, while "idol" is a person or thing that is greatly loved and admired.
المرادفات
inactive (More general and slightly more formal; often used for systems or periods, not just people.)
الأضداد
busy (Emphasizes being actively occupied with work or activity.)
المتلازمات اللفظية
stand idle
|sit idle
|lie idle
|leave [something] idle
|idle workers
|idle machinery
الموضوعات
work
|daily life
|technology
|core_vocabulary
أمثلة
- Several machines were standing idle in the corner of the factory.
- The workers have been idle for weeks because of the strike.
- I hate seeing such a talented person sitting idle.
- Much of the office space remains idle during the weekend.
أمثلة للمتعلّمين
- The taxi was idle at the station.
- Many workers were idle during the power cut.
- My computer is idle when I am not at my desk.
- The gym was idle all night.
adjective
B2
property
2
Lazy; not wanting to work
Describing someone who does not want to work or try.
نمط الاستخدام:
[someone] is idle
خطأ شائع:
Learners sometimes use "idle" only for people who are temporarily not working. For a permanent personality description (someone who never wants to work), "idle" is possible but "lazy" is more common and clearer.
المرادفات
lazy (The most common everyday word; slightly more direct and sometimes more negative than "idle".)
الأضداد
hardworking (Highlights someone who works a lot and makes a strong effort.)
المتلازمات اللفظية
idle and lazy
|idle lifestyle
|the idle rich
|idle youth
|too idle to [verb]
الموضوعات
personality
|work
|behavior
|core_vocabulary
أمثلة
- He lost his job because his boss thought he was idle and unmotivated.
- She has an idle streak and avoids any task that looks difficult.
- The novel criticizes the idle rich who never have to work.
- An idle student will quickly fall behind in class.
أمثلة للمتعلّمين
- My brother is too idle to clean his room.
- The teacher does not like idle students.
- He lives an idle life and does not want a job.
- People think the idle rich do nothing all day.
فعل
B2
action
3
Spend time doing nothing much
To pass time doing very little or nothing important.
نمط الاستخدام:
to idle around [a place]
خطأ شائع:
Learners sometimes use "idle" like "relax" in all situations. "Idle" often suggests doing nothing useful and can sound slightly negative, while "relax" is neutral or positive.
المرادفات
loaf (Informal; suggests being lazy and avoiding work rather than simply relaxing.)
الأضداد
work (Focuses on doing tasks or jobs, the opposite of passing time doing nothing.)
المتلازمات اللفظية
idle around
|idle about
|idle the day away
|idling in the sun
|idle by the window
الموضوعات
daily life
|leisure
|behavior
|daily_life
|work
|core_vocabulary
أمثلة
- We idled around the park all afternoon, just talking and watching people.
- He likes to idle by the river on Sunday mornings.
- Instead of working on her project, she idled the day away online.
- Tourists idled about in the square, taking photos and drinking coffee.
أمثلة للمتعلّمين
- They idled around the mall after school.
- We idled in the cafe for an hour.
- He idled the afternoon away in front of the TV.
- I do not want to idle at home all weekend.
فعل
technical
B2
action
4
Engine running slowly with no load
For a car or machine engine to run slowly while the car or machine is not moving or working.
نمط الاستخدام:
[engine/vehicle] idles
خطأ شائع:
Learners may think "idle" here means the car is completely off. In this sense, the engine is still running but not moving the car or doing work.
المرادفات
tick over (Mainly UK and informal; describes an engine running quietly at low speed.)
الأضداد
accelerate (Emphasizes increasing engine speed and power, the opposite of staying at low idle speed.)
المتلازمات اللفظية
engine idling
|car idling
|idle at the lights
|idle in neutral
|let the car idle
الموضوعات
transport
|technology
|environment
|transportation
أمثلة
- The car was idling outside while she ran into the shop.
- Do not leave your engine idling for long periods; it wastes fuel.
- He let the truck idle in neutral as he checked the map.
- Several buses sat idling at the station, filling the air with exhaust.
أمثلة للمتعلّمين
- The taxi engine was idling at the curb.
- Please do not idle the car outside my window.
- The bus idled at the stop for ten minutes.
- He left the engine idling while he made a phone call.
adjective
B2
property
5
Without real effect or seriousness
Not serious or real; not likely to happen or change anything.
نمط الاستخدام:
idle [noun]
خطأ شائع:
Learners sometimes think "idle talk" means talk when people are not working. It actually means talk that is not serious or important, often with no real effect.
المرادفات
meaningless (Focuses on having no real meaning or value; "idle" often also suggests that nothing will happen because of it.)
الأضداد
serious (Emphasizes that the talk, threat, or plan is real and should be taken into account.)
المتلازمات اللفظية
idle talk
|idle threat
|idle speculation
|idle rumor
|idle curiosity
|idle chatter
الموضوعات
communication
|thinking
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
أمثلة
- His promise was not just idle talk; he really meant it.
- They dismissed the email as an idle threat from an angry customer.
- The article was full of idle speculation about the company’s future.
- Out of idle curiosity, she searched for her old classmates online.
أمثلة للمتعلّمين
- The teacher said this was not an idle threat.
- We had some idle talk while we waited.
- That comment was just idle chatter.
- He asked the question from idle curiosity.
القواعد
الصيغة المعجمية
idle
IPA
GB/ˈaɪdəl/
US/ˈaɪdəl/
المقاطع والنبر
idle (١ مقطع)
Stress on 1st syllable (idle)
تصريفات الكلمة
Adjective
- Base: idle
- Comparative: idler
- Superlative: idlest
Verb
- Base: idle
- 3rd Person Singular: idles
- Present Participle: idling
- Past: idled
عائلة الكلمة
التعبيرات
idle away
1/ˈaɪdəl əwˈeɪ/
phrasal verb
Spend time doing very little
To spend time doing very little or nothing important, usually in a relaxed way.
أمثلة
- We idled away the afternoon by the pool.
- He likes to idle away his weekends playing simple games.
idle chatter
1/ˈaɪdəl t͡ʃˈætɚ/
fixed phrase
Light, meaningless conversation
Quick, light talk with no serious topic or goal.
أمثلة
- The room was full of idle chatter before the talk began.
- They exchanged idle chatter while waiting for the train.
idle curiosity
1/ˈaɪdəl kjˌʊɹiˈɑsəti/
fixed phrase
Curiosity with no real need
Wanting to know something just for interest, not because you need the information.
أمثلة
- Out of idle curiosity, he checked how much the house next door had sold for.
- She asked the question from idle curiosity, not because it mattered.
idle hands are the devil's workshop
1/ˈaɪdəl hˈændz ˈɑɹ ðə dˈɛvəlz wˈɚkʃˌɑp/
idiom
literary
Doing nothing can lead to trouble
If people have nothing useful to do, they may start doing bad or foolish things.
أمثلة
- She encouraged her children to join clubs because she believed that idle hands are the devil's workshop.
- The program aims to keep teenagers busy, based on the idea that idle hands are the devil's workshop.
idle talk
1/ˈaɪdəl tˈɔk/
fixed phrase
Unimportant, not serious talk
Talk that is not serious or important and will not change anything.
أمثلة
- Most of the meeting was just idle talk about office gossip.
- She dismissed the rumors as idle talk from bored coworkers.
idle threat
1/ˈaɪdəl θɹˈɛt/
fixed phrase
Threat not meant seriously
A warning that someone says but does not really plan to do.
أمثلة
- The manager’s warning was not an idle threat; several people were fired.
- Parents sometimes make idle threats that their children know they will not keep.
lie idle
1/lˈaɪ ˈaɪdəl/
fixed phrase
Remain unused or not active
To stay without being used or active.
أمثلة
- Much of the equipment is lying idle in storage.
- The land has lain idle for years because of a legal dispute.
sit idle
1/sˈɪt ˈaɪdəl/
fixed phrase
Sit without doing anything
To sit and not do any work or activity.
أمثلة
- He sat idle at his desk, waiting for the system to reboot.
- I do not want to sit idle while others do all the work.
stand idle
1/stˈænd ˈaɪdəl/
fixed phrase
Stand without doing anything
To stand and not do any work or activity.
أمثلة
- Several workers stood idle while they waited for new instructions.
- We cannot stand idle while the problem gets worse.
the idle rich
1/ðə ˈaɪdəl ɹˈɪt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
Wealthy people who do not work
Rich people who do not have to work and often do very little.
أمثلة
- The novel is a sharp look at the lives of the idle rich.
- Many people resent the idle rich, who seem to live without worries.
idle speculation
1/ˈaɪdəl spˌɛkjəlˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Guessing without real basis
Guesses and ideas about something when you do not have facts and the guesses are not very useful.
أمثلة
- Let's avoid idle speculation and wait for the official report.
- The report avoids idle speculation and sticks to the facts.
- The meeting turned into idle speculation about who might be promoted next.
- There was a lot of idle speculation about who would be promoted.