sit on one's handsとは 意味・読み方・使い方

動詞

sit on one's hands (三人称単数 現在形 sits on one's hands, 現在分詞 sitting on one's hands, 過去形および過去分詞形 sat on one's hands)

1. (idiomatic) To remain idle when action is needed, perhaps because of fear, ignorance, complacency, indecisiveness, or dislike of the person(s) or situation.
   • 2023 March 8, Mel Holley, “TSSA accepts offer, but RMT sets new strike dates”, in RAIL, number 978, page 10:

     "Ministers cannot continue to sit on their hands, hoping this dispute will go away. Our members are fully prepared to fight tooth-and-nail for a negotiated settlement," RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch has warned.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:loiter

   Coordinate term: twiddle one's thumbs

2. (theater, informal) To fail to applaud when expected to.
   • 1946, Billboard, volume 58, number 40:

     While Boston is a "musical town," audiences here sat on their hands a good part of the time.

派生語

• sit on one's ass (卑語)

関連する語

参考

• take a stand
• take sitting down