twiddling one's thumbs
Waiting with nothing
Twiddling one's thumbs is rotating the thumbs around each other while the hands are clasped—the quintessential gesture of having nothing to do.
The phrase almost always describes idle waiting or enforced inactivity: I've been twiddling my thumbs while management decides our fate.
It implies restlessness and often frustration at being unable to act.
- boredomWeary disinterest from monotony
- sitting aroundBeing idle somewhere
- restlessnessState of unease
- fidgetingRestless minor movements
- nervous energyAnxious excess of vitality
pacing · ennui · staring into space · impatience · clock watching · sighing · shrugging · frustration · doodling · killing time · wasting time · watching paint dry · anticipation · lethargy · monotony · apathy · at loose ends · waiting
twiddling one's thumbsgetting things done
Accomplishing tasks effectively
hard at work · hustling · toiling · laboring · burning the midnight oil
twiddling one's thumbsswamped
Overwhelmed beyond capacity
slammed · rushed off one's feet · running around like a chicken with its head cut off · up to one's ears · in over one's head
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