idle
Translation
inactive, unemployed, lazy, ticking over
Examples
The factory has been idle for months.
The factory has been idle for months.
He spent an idle afternoon reading.
He spent a lazy afternoon reading.
The car was idling at the traffic light.
The car was ticking over at the traffic light.
Grammar Patterns
((be)) idle (adjective) to be inactive The factory has been idle for months.
((...)) idle (verb) to run slowly without moving The car was idling at the traffic light.
Similar Words
Synonyms: inactive, lazy, unoccupied; Antonyms: busy, active, working
Etymology
From Old English 'īdel' meaning 'empty, vain, useless'.
Memory Tips
Can be an adjective (an idle person) or a verb (to idle an engine). Think of the image of doing nothing.