letting the grass grow under one's feet
Wasting time passively
To let the grass grow under one's feet is to delay or be idle when action is needed—the image being of standing still so long that grass sprouts beneath you.
Almost always appears in the negative: She's not one to let the grass grow under her feet.
Someone who doesn't let the grass grow is energetic, decisive, quick to act.
- idlenessState of doing nothing
- twiddling thumbsGesture of impatient boredom
- postponementDelaying to later
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- stallingIntentional delay tactics
sitting idle · dilly-dallying · dragging one's feet · stagnation · indecision · decisiveness · initiative · get the ball rolling · lost time · missed opportunities · dawdling · slow off the mark · inefficiency · regret · foot-dragging · avoidance · loafing · momentum
letting the grass grow under one's feettaking the bull by the horns
Confronting a difficulty directly
hitting the ground running · seizing the day · carpe diem · taking action · getting the ball rolling