English Dictionary

sit on one's hands

動詞

慣用表現 くだけた表現

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

日本語の意味

必要な行動をすべき状況で、恐れや無知、自己満足、優柔不断、または特定の状況や相手に対する嫌悪感から、何もせずにただ時間を無駄にすること

The teacher warned against the tendency to sit on one's hands in difficult situations, urging students to take responsibility.

先生は、困難な状況で行動が必要なのに手をこまねいてしまう傾向を戒め、生徒たちに責任を持って行動するよう促した。

意味（1）

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

Coordinate term: twiddle one's thumbs

意味（2）

(theater, informal) To fail to applaud when expected to.

While Boston is a musical town, audiences here sat on their hands a good part of the time.

sits on one's hands （ present singular third-person ）

sitting on one's hands （ participle present ）

sat on one's hands （ participle past ）

sat on one's hands （ past ）