Idle

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Idle

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

adjective, verb, and noun

Pronunciation

EYE-dul  /ˈaɪd(ə)l/

Definition

As an adjective: not working or active; not being used; without purpose or effect; lazy or unoccupied. As a verb: to run an engine at low speed without load; to spend time doing nothing. As a noun: a low running speed of an engine.

Plain meaning

Idle means not doing anything useful, or not working. An idle machine is switched on but not doing work. An idle threat is a threat that will never be carried out. To idle away the afternoon means to spend it doing nothing. A car engine idles when it runs at low speed in neutral. Idle hands do the devil's work is the old proverb.

Register

Neutral as an adjective; slightly moral or critical when applied to people (calling someone idle implies reproach). The engine idle sense is purely technical. Idle curiosity, idle threat, and idle hands are set phrases with specific nuances.