sit on one's hands
Refuse to act
To sit on one's hands is to refrain from acting when action is expected or needed.
The image is of someone literally immobilizing their hands to avoid participation—neither applauding nor helping.
Congress sat on its hands while the crisis deepened.
The phrase implies passivity that borders on negligence or deliberate obstruction.
State of non-resistance
- inertiaResistance to altered motion
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- delayEnforced waiting period
- stagnationAbsence of flow or progress
idleness · procrastination · immobility · nonintervention · neglect · dawdling · foot-dragging · sluggishness
Absence of feeling
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
- disinterestAbsence of bias
- nonchalanceCalm, casual composure
- aloofnessEmotional unavailability, standoffishness
unconcern · insouciance · impassivity · dispassion · bystander · spectator · laissez-faire · unresponsiveness
passivity
State of non-resistance
- inertiaResistance to altered motion
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- delayEnforced waiting period
stagnation · idleness · procrastination · immobility · nonintervention · neglect · dawdling · foot-dragging · sluggishness · remissness
apathy
Absence of feeling
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
- disinterestAbsence of bias
- nonchalanceCalm, casual composure
aloofness · unconcern · insouciance · impassivity · dispassion · bystander · spectator · laissez-faire · unresponsiveness · complacency
sit on one's handstake action
Begin doing something
jump in · spring into action · get involved · step up · roll up one's sleeves
sit on one's handsapplaud
Clap to show praise
clap · cheer · bring the house down · go wild
sits, sitting, sitter, sitters, hand, hands, handed, handing, handy