ENGLISH
REFERENCE

sit still

idiom
Meaning

To accept, tolerate, or acquiesce.


Examples
SIMPLE

He will not sit still for such unfair treatment.

CONTEXTUAL

The workers refused to sit still while the company cut their pay without any warning.

COMPLEX

The community could not sit still as the local government planned to demolish the historic library to build a parking lot.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    sit back

    To relax, to not exert oneself.

  2. 02

    sit in

    To attend a class, educational presentation, meeting, etc. for one time, as a visitor.

  3. 03

    sit in for

    To substitute; to take somebody's place.

  4. 04

    sit in with

    To join (often as an observer, supervisor or outsider) a group working together on a task.

  5. 05

    sit on

    To block, suppress, restrain (something).

  6. 06

    sit on a tack

    An expression of contempt or dismissiveness directed at someone, particularly in the case of disagreement.

  7. 07

    sit on one's ass

    To be very lazy and idle, especially when immediate action is required.

  8. 08

    sit on one's hands

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

Last updated April 17, 2026