Phrase guide

sit on one's hands

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To remain idle when action is needed, perhaps because of fear, ignorance, complacency, indecisiveness, or dislike of the person(s) or situation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: arse about, arse around, bludge, bum around, cabbage, clown around, dally, dawdle, dick about, dick around, diddle, dilly-dally, dretch, drumble, faff, faff about, faff around, fanny about, fanny around, fart about, fart around, fiddle about, fiddle around, fool about, fool around, footle, forslow, goof around, goof off, hang about, hang around, hang out, horse around, idle, jerk off, lallygag, lamp, laze, laze about, laze around, linger, loaf, loaf about, loaf around, loiter, lollop, lollygag, mess around, mill about, mill around, muck about, muck around, piddle, pingle, stand by, tarry, tool around, waste time, while

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To fail to applaud when expected to.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, theater

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: pyöritellä peukaloitaan — to remain idle when action is needed
  • French: rester les bras croisés — to remain idle when action is needed
  • German: (nur) dumm rumsitzen — to remain idle when action is needed
  • Italian: fare un cazzo/una sega — to remain idle when action is needed
  • Italian: scaldare la sedia — to remain idle when action is needed
  • Italian: aspettare la Madonna/lo Spirito Santo — to remain idle when action is needed
  • Italian: stare con le mani in tasca — to remain idle when action is needed
  • Polish: siedzieć z założonymi rękami — to remain idle when action is needed
  • Portuguese: cruzar os braços — to remain idle when action is needed
  • Spanish: cruzarse de brazos — to remain idle when action is needed
  • Spanish: mano sobre mano (after a verb; usu. estar) — to remain idle when action is needed