twiddle one's thumbs
Meaning: To do nothing while waiting or out of boredom.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “The flight was delayed, so we sat in the lounge twiddling our thumbs.”
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: "Twiddle" means to twirl idly, the image being hands clasped with thumbs circling each other. The phrase is found from the mid-19th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- Japanese: 油を売る (Abura ouru) — literally: To sell oil
- Romanian: A freca menta — literally: To rub the mint
- Italian: Stare con le mani in mano — literally: To stand with your hands in your hand
- Russian: Бить баклуши (Bit' baklushi) — literally: To beat the baklushi
- French: Bayer aux corneilles — literally: To gape at the crows
More idioms — Body & Senses
- have a free hand — To have freedom to act as one sees fit.
- take a load off someone's mind — To relieve someone of a worry.
- hand in hand — Closely together; in close association.
- kicking and screaming — Very reluctantly, protesting all the way.
- lie through one's teeth — To lie openly and shamelessly.
- put one's feet up — To relax and rest.
More English idioms
- a nest of vipers — A group of people who scheme against or betray each other.
- once bitten, twice shy — After a bad experience, one is much more cautious.
- I could eat a horse — I am extremely hungry.
- give someone a leg up — To help someone make progress or get started.
- earn one's spurs — To prove one's ability and gain recognition.
- there's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip — Many things can go wrong before a plan succeeds.
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