idle
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Related to idles: idlest
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.
idle hands are the devil's playthings
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 idle hands are the devil's playthings.
idle hands are the devil's tools
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 idle hands are the devil's tools.
idle hands are the devil's workshop
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 idle hands are the devil's 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 laying around all day.
The devil finds work for idle hands
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 the devil finds work for idle hands.
the devil finds work for idle hands to do
If one is unoccupied, one will likely 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 the devil finds work for idle hands to do.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.