der Leerlauf
Translation
idling, idle, downtime, standstill
Examples
Der Motor läuft im Leerlauf.
The engine is idling.
Es gab viel Leerlauf im Projekt.
There was a lot of downtime in the project.
Grammar Patterns
to be idling
Similar Words
Synonyms: Stillstand (standstill), Untätigkeit (inactivity); Antonyms: Betrieb (operation)
Etymology
A compound of 'leer' (empty) and 'Lauf' (run). It literally means an 'empty run', i.e., running without producing work.
Memory Tips
Picture a car's engine 'running' (Lauf), but it's an 'empty' (leer) run because the car is in neutral. That's idling.