idle
gb/ˈaɪdəl/ us/ˈaɪdəl/
B1
Angielski
~ 9100
Znaczenia
0 znaczeń
adjective
B1
property
1
Not working or being used
Not working or not being used at that moment.
Schemat użycia:
[someone/something] is idle
Częsty błąd:
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.
Synonimy
inactive (More general and slightly more formal; often used for systems or periods, not just people.)
Antonimy
busy (Emphasizes being actively occupied with work or activity.)
Kolokacje
stand idle
|sit idle
|lie idle
|leave [something] idle
|idle workers
|idle machinery
Tematy
work
|daily life
|technology
|core_vocabulary
Przykłady
- 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.
Przykłady dla uczących się
- 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.
Schemat użycia:
[someone] is idle
Częsty błąd:
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.
Synonimy
lazy (The most common everyday word; slightly more direct and sometimes more negative than "idle".)
Antonimy
hardworking (Highlights someone who works a lot and makes a strong effort.)
Kolokacje
idle and lazy
|idle lifestyle
|the idle rich
|idle youth
|too idle to [verb]
Tematy
personality
|work
|behavior
|core_vocabulary
Przykłady
- 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.
Przykłady dla uczących się
- 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.
Czasownik
B2
action
3
Spend time doing nothing much
To pass time doing very little or nothing important.
Schemat użycia:
to idle around [a place]
Częsty błąd:
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.
Synonimy
loaf (Informal; suggests being lazy and avoiding work rather than simply relaxing.)
Antonimy
work (Focuses on doing tasks or jobs, the opposite of passing time doing nothing.)
Kolokacje
idle around
|idle about
|idle the day away
|idling in the sun
|idle by the window
Tematy
daily life
|leisure
|behavior
|daily_life
|work
|core_vocabulary
Przykłady
- 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.
Przykłady dla uczących się
- 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.
Czasownik
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.
Schemat użycia:
[engine/vehicle] idles
Częsty błąd:
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.
Synonimy
tick over (Mainly UK and informal; describes an engine running quietly at low speed.)
Antonimy
accelerate (Emphasizes increasing engine speed and power, the opposite of staying at low idle speed.)
Kolokacje
engine idling
|car idling
|idle at the lights
|idle in neutral
|let the car idle
Tematy
transport
|technology
|environment
|transportation
Przykłady
- 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.
Przykłady dla uczących się
- 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.
Schemat użycia:
idle [noun]
Częsty błąd:
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.
Synonimy
meaningless (Focuses on having no real meaning or value; "idle" often also suggests that nothing will happen because of it.)
Antonimy
serious (Emphasizes that the talk, threat, or plan is real and should be taken into account.)
Kolokacje
idle talk
|idle threat
|idle speculation
|idle rumor
|idle curiosity
|idle chatter
Tematy
communication
|thinking
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Przykłady
- 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.
Przykłady dla uczących się
- 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.
Gramatyka
Forma słownikowa
idle
IPA
GB/ˈaɪdəl/
US/ˈaɪdəl/
Sylaby i akcent
idle (1 sylaba)
Stress on 1st syllable (idle)
Formy wyrazu
Adjective
- Base: idle
- Comparative: idler
- Superlative: idlest
Verb
- Base: idle
- 3rd Person Singular: idles
- Present Participle: idling
- Past: idled
Rodzina wyrazów
Wyrażenia
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.
Przykłady
- 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.
Przykłady
- 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.
Przykłady
- 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.
Przykłady
- 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.
Przykłady
- 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.
Przykłady
- 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.
Przykłady
- 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.
Przykłady
- 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.
Przykłady
- 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.
Przykłady
- 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.
Przykłady
- 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.