sit on hands

sit on one's hands

Fig. to do nothing; to fail to help. (See also sit on its hands.) When we needed help from Mary, she just sat on her hands. We need the cooperation of everyone. You can't sit on your hands!

See also: hand, sit

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sit on your hands

to do nothing about a problem or a situation that needs dealing with Every day the crisis worsens and yet the government seems content to sit on its hands.

See also: hand, sit

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sit on your hands

to take no action Many companies are sitting on their hands, unable to decide which of the new technologies for linking computers is the smartest choice.

See also: hand, sit