idle

(redirected from idling)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Financial, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

an idle brain is the devil's workshop

proverb When one has nothing to do, one is more likely to get into trouble. When I'm off from school, my grandmother is always trying to get me out of the house, while reminding me that an idle brain is the devil's workshop. Well, it's no surprise to me the boy is doing drugs and stealing. He dropped out of high school and didn't do anything with his life! An idle brain is the devil's workshop, after all. We try to keep our kids busy with various jobs and activities during their summer break. An idle brain is the devil's workshop, after all.
See also: an, brain, idle, workshop

an idle mind is the devil's playground

proverb When one has nothing to do, one is more likely to get into trouble. Whenever I'm off from school for the summer, my grandmother tries to get me to sign up for group camps and activities, always reminding me that an idle mind is the devil's playground. Well, it's no surprise to me the boy is doing drugs and stealing. He dropped out of high school and didn't do anything with his life! An idle mind is the devil's playground, after all. An idle mind is the devil's playground, so is it any surprise they started causing mischief after being left to their own devices for so long?
See also: an, idle, mind

an idle mind is the devil's workshop

proverb When one has nothing to do, one is more likely to get into trouble. Whenever I'm off from school for the summer, my grandmother tries to get me to sign up for group camps and activities, always reminding me that an idle mind is the devil's workshop. Well, it's no surprise to me the boy is doing drugs and stealing. He dropped out of high school and didn't do anything with his life! An idle mind is the devil's workshop, after all. An idle mind is the devil's workshop, so is it any surprise they started causing mischief after being left to their own devices for so long?
See also: an, idle, mind, workshop

be bone idle

To be extremely lazy. Can you please get Billy to go to the playground or something? He's been bone idle, just lying around all day. No, they're not working on that project—I just passed Mike's office, and they're bone idle, hanging out! Can you get her to start her book report please? She's been bone idle all day.
See also: bone, idle

bone-idle

Extremely lazy. Can you please get Billy to go to the playground or something? He's just laying around all day, being bone-idle. Andrew, stop being bone-idle and get to work on your book report! Susie still hasn't cleaned up that mess? Ugh, that child is bone-idle sometimes.

idle about

To be lazy. Can you please get Billy to go to the playground or something? He's just been idling about all day. No, they're not working on that project—I just passed Mike's office, and they're idling about! Can you get her to start her book report please? She's just idled about all day.
See also: idle

idle away

To waste an interval of time in laziness or inactivity. A noun or pronoun can be used between "idle" and "away." Don't idle the whole day away, or else you'll be up all night finishing your science project. I idled away a few hours and then got back to my research. Can you get her to start her book report please? She's idled the afternoon away.
See also: away, idle

idle folk have the least leisure

proverb People who are slow to finish their work ultimately have less free time. Idle folk have the least leisure, you know. So if you would just write your paper instead of procrastinating, you'd have some time to really relax. Don't you understand that idle folk have the least leisure? Wrap up this dumb report once and for all so you can come watch TV with me! You know that idle folk have the least leisure, so why do you insist on dragging out every step of this project?
See also: folk, have, idle, least, leisure

idle hands are the devil's playthings

proverb When one is unoccupied or has nothing to do, one is more likely to cause or get into trouble. Idle hands are the devil's playthings, so is it any surprise they started causing mischief after being left to their own devices for so long? We try to keep our kids busy with various jobs and activities during their summer break. Idle hands are the devil's playthings, after all. Well, it's no surprise to me the boy is doing drugs and stealing—he dropped out of high school! And idle hands are the devil's playthings.
See also: hand, idle

idle hands are the devil's tools

proverb When one is unoccupied or has nothing to do, one is more likely to cause or get into trouble. Idle hands are the devil's tools, so is it any surprise they started causing mischief after being left to their own devices for so long? We try to keep our kids busy with various jobs and activities during their summer break. Idle hands are the devil's tools, after all. Well, it's no surprise to me the boy is doing drugs and stealing—he dropped out of high school! And idle hands are the devil's tools.
See also: hand, idle, tool

idle hands are the devil's workshop

proverb When one is unoccupied or has nothing to do, one is more likely to cause or get into trouble. Idle hands are the devil's workshop, so is it any surprise they started causing mischief after being left to their own devices for so long? We try to keep our kids busy with various jobs and activities during their summer break. Idle hands are the devil's workshop, after all. Well, it's no surprise to me the boy is doing drugs and stealing—he dropped out of high school! And idle hands are the devil's workshop.
See also: hand, idle, workshop

idle people have the least leisure

proverb People who are slow to finish their work ultimately have less free time. Idle people have the least leisure, you know. So if you would just write your paper instead of procrastinating, you'd have some time to really relax. Don't you understand that idle people have the least leisure? Wrap up this dumb report once and for all so you can come watch TV with me! You know that idle people have the least leisure, so why do you insist on dragging out every step of this project?
See also: have, idle, least, leisure, people

the devil finds work for idle hands

proverb When one is unoccupied or has nothing to do, one is more likely to cause or get into trouble. The devil finds work for idle hands, so is it any surprise they started causing mischief after being left to their own devices for so long? We try to keep our kids busy with various jobs and activities during their summer break. The devil finds work for idle hands, after all.
See also: devil, find, for, hand, idle, work

the devil finds work for idle hands to do

proverb When one is unoccupied or has nothing to do, one is more likely to cause or get into trouble. The devil finds work for idle hands to do, so is it any surprise they started causing mischief after being left to their own devices for so long? We try to keep our kids busy with various jobs and activities during their summer break. The devil finds work for idle hands to do, after all.
See also: devil, find, for, hand, idle, to, work

the devil makes work for idle hands

proverb When one is unoccupied or has nothing to do, one is more likely to cause or get into trouble. The devil makes work for idle hands, so is it any surprise they started causing mischief after being left to their own devices for so long? We try to keep our kids busy with various jobs and activities during their summer break. The devil finds work for idle hands, after all.
See also: devil, for, hand, idle, make, work

the devil makes work for idle hands to do

proverb When one is unoccupied or has nothing to do, one is more likely to cause or get into trouble. The devil makes work for idle hands to do, so is it any surprise they started causing mischief after being left to their own devices for so long? We try to keep our kids busy with various jobs and activities during their summer break. The devil makes work for idle hands to do, after all.
See also: devil, for, hand, idle, make, to, work
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

devil finds work for idle hands to do

Prov. If you do not have useful work to do, you will be tempted to do frivolous or harmful things to get rid of your boredom. Knowing that the devil finds work for idle hands to do, Elizabeth always made sure that her children had plenty of chores to keep them occupied.
See also: devil, find, for, hand, idle, to, work

idle about

to loiter around, doing nothing. Please don't idle about. Get busy! Andy is idling about today.
See also: idle

idle brain is the devil's workshop

Prov. People who have nothing worthwhile to think about will usually think of something bad to do. We need to figure out something constructive for Tom to do in the afternoons after school. An idle brain is the devil's workshop.
See also: brain, idle, workshop

Idle people have the least leisure.

 and Idle folk have the least leisure.
Prov. If you are not energetic and hardworking, you will never have any free time, since you will have to spend all your time finishing your work. My grandmother always told me not to dawdle, since idle people have the least leisure.
See also: have, idle, least, leisure, people

idle something away

Fig. to waste one's time in idleness; to waste a period of time, such as an afternoon, evening, one's life. She idled the afternoon away and then went to a party. Don't idle away the afternoon.
See also: away, idle
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

ˌbone ˈidle

(British English, informal) (of a person) very lazy: The family consists of Vera, her intensely irritating husband and her two bone idle sons.
See also: bone, idle

the devil makes work for idle ˈhands

(saying) people who do not have enough to do often start to do wrong: She blamed the crimes on the local jobless teenagers. ‘The devil makes work for idle hands,’ she would say.
See also: devil, for, hand, idle, make, work
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

idle away

v.
To spend some period of time not working or avoiding work: I idled the day away. The children idled away the summer.
See also: away, idle
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
See also:
References in periodicals archive ?
Meanwhile, stopping the engine is also safer for the car as idling can leave residue and oil contamination, which can damage the engine or increase fuel consumption when the spark plugs become dirty.
Idling for 3 minutes can result in hefty fines
In New York City, there are now signs offering cash rewards to residents who report idling vehicles.
Idle-Reduction Technology Remains A Cost-Saver For Fleets
Engine idling, he added, has a big effect on the health and well-being of people.
Prolonged idling of parked cars' engines soon a no-no in San Juan
TOM: Cummins, for instance (one of the major diesel engine manufacturers), warns in its owner's manuals that excessive idling of the engine can cause carbon to build up on the pistons, piston rings, injector tips, valves and more.
Idling RV for 30 minutes is harmful
When idling, as cars and buses do daily during pick-up and drop-off, vehicles produce the most problematic particles.
Air at school entrance may be big threat to students' health
We have previously reported that idling buses are significantly associated with an increase in UFP concentration outside schools and result in outdoor to indoor movement of particles and elemental carbon (Hochstetler et al., 2011).
A community-based participatory research partnership to reduce vehicle idling near public schools
For example, FairPoint saw its total idling time drop more than 42 percent from the first four months of 2011 as compared to same months this year.
-FairPoint cuts vehicle emissions
Limiting the amount of time the diesel engines of parked trucks can be left idling has so many undiluted economic and environmental benefits that it's surprising rules are needed.
Cut pollution, save fuel
The Idle Guard 200 is a solid state, reliable timer that automatically prevents unnecessary engine idling in fleet and delivery vehicles.
Transportation safety technologies
So tilting the engine up as you're idling out of the marina may ease--but not eliminate--the problem.
Smoke screen
Injection-molding machines have "base" and "process" loads, and an idling machine is not "free"; it is costing large amounts of money.
Energy-saving: tip of the month #7
According to a ThyssenKrupp spokesperson, the planned idling is a result of the current economic climate.
ThyssenKrupp Waupaca to idle Tennessee plant
In essence, the article talked about idling the engine after startup and before shutdown to help circulate oil to the turbocharger and prevent bearing damage.
Idling times important
New York City is cracking down on excessive vehicle idling in its aggressive statewide campaign known as the Stop Smoking Initiative for Trucks.
The great idling crackdown
Idioms browser ?
Full browser ?