# sit on one's hands

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/sit-on-ones-hands
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- Don't just sit on your hands while the house is on fire.
- The company is losing money every day, yet the board of directors continues to sit on its hands instead of making changes.
- While the community faced an urgent crisis, the local officials chose to sit on their hands, waiting for someone else to take the lead.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.