sit idly by
Watch without acting
To sit idly by is to remain passive while something happens that calls for action or intervention.
The phrase carries implicit criticism—someone who sits idly by could have helped but chose not to: How can you sit idly by while they destroy the neighborhood?
The world sat idly by during the genocide.
- inactionDeliberate nonmovement
- passiveNot actively participating
- watchPortable timekeeping device
- witnessingSeeing something occur
- look the other wayWillfully ignore misconduct
complicity · twiddling thumbs · pause · culpability · bystander effect · turn a blind eye · enablement · wash one's hands · lethargy · apathetic · indifferent · nonintervention · silence · unconcern · complacency · disregard · omission · abstention
sit idly bytake action
Begin doing something
intervene · act · step in · get involved · do something
sit idly byget one's hands dirty
Involve oneself in labor
wade in · throw oneself into · commit · take part · take responsibility
sit idly bystep up
Increase or advance
stand up · take responsibility · answer the call · take the lead · shoulder the burden
sit, idly, sits, sitting, idle, idler, idleness, idled, idles