Sit on Your Hands.
English
idiom
To do nothing when action is clearly needed.
Trusted by1.5M+English learners & teachers worldwide
To do nothing when action is clearly needed.
Trusted by1.5M+English learners & teachers worldwide
To do nothing when the situation clearly calls for action.
Sitting on your hands is not patient waiting — it's a failure to move while a problem gets worse.
The phrase usually carries criticism, whether of a person or an organization.
"Sit Tight"
—
Wait on purpose, because waiting is right
"Wash Your Hands of It"
—
Refuse any further responsibility
"Sit on Your Hands"
—
Fail to act when action is needed
We can't keep sitting on our hands while the reviews get worse.
You're right. Let's agree one change today rather than a perfect plan next month.
I keep meaning to talk to him about it and I never do.
You've been sitting on your hands for a year. It won't get easier.
The landlord still hasn't fixed the heating.
He'll sit on his hands until you put it in writing.
