sat on one's hands
Refused to act
To sit on one's hands is to refrain from acting when action is expected or needed—to remain passive or unhelpful.
The image is of someone keeping their hands unavailable, unable to applaud, assist, or intervene: Congress sat on its hands while the crisis deepened.
An audience that sits on its hands refuses to clap.
- procrastinationHabitual task avoidance
- dragging one's feetIntentionally slowing progress
- neglectFailure to provide care
- idlenessState of doing nothing
- twiddling thumbsGesture of impatient boredom
sitting idle · doing nothing · reluctance · withholding · apathy · irresponsibility · inertia · indifference · indecision · abstention · complacency · looking the other way · willful ignorance · nonintervention · passivity · taking a back seat · omission · body language
sat on one's handstook action
Responded with effort
stepped up · took the initiative · rolled up one's sleeves · jumped in · took the bull by the horns
sat on one's handsgot involved
engaged · participated · waded in · committed · took part
sat on one's handsstood up
Failed to appear
stepped up to the plate · rose to the occasion · took a stand · went out on a limb · bit the bullet
sitter, sitters, ones, oneness, hand, hands, handed, handing, handy