Idioms are special figurative expressions where the words together create a meaning completely different from what they say individually. People use them in everyday speech to make their descriptions more colorful, vivid, and memorable. In this article, you will learn fifty unique idioms related to resting, relaxing, and doing nothing at all.
In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms that mean taking a break, idling, and staying inactive. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Idioms for Doing Nothing
1. At a standstill
Definition: A complete stop where no movement or activity is happening.
Used in a Sentence: Traffic on the bridge came to a standstill during the heavy storm. / Our group project was at a standstill until we found our missing papers.
Similar Expressions: Completely stopped / At an impasse
2. Beat the clock
Definition: Doing nothing until the last minute, or racing against time to finish.
Used in a Sentence: He waited until Sunday night to start his report, trying to beat the clock. / We rushed to beat the clock before the library closed.
Similar Expressions: Race against time / Last-minute rush
3. Burn daylight
Definition: To waste precious time doing nothing productive.
Used in a Sentence: Stop standing around talking and let us get to work instead of burning daylight. / Dad told us to hurry up and pack our bags so we would not burn daylight.
Similar Expressions: Waste time / Idle away
4. Catch some Zs
Definition: To rest, sleep, or do nothing while dozing in a chair.
Used in a Sentence: After a long afternoon of playing soccer, I need to go catch some Zs. / Grandpa likes to sit on the porch swing and catch some Zs after lunch.
Similar Expressions: Take a nap / Sleep a bit
5. Chill out
Definition: To relax, calm down, and spend time doing nothing stressful.
Used in a Sentence: On a hot summer afternoon, it is nice to chill out in the air conditioning. / After finishing all my homework, I just want to chill out with a book.
Similar Expressions: Relax completely / Unwind
6. Cock your feet up
Definition: To sit back comfortably and do nothing after working hard.
Used in a Sentence: After cleaning the whole garage, Mom liked to cock her feet up on the sofa. / You earned a break, so go ahead and cock your feet up.
Similar Expressions: Put your feet up / Relax comfortably
7. Couch potato
Definition: A person who spends too much time sitting on the couch doing nothing.
Used in a Sentence: On rainy weekends, my brother turns into a complete couch potato watching TV. / I try not to be a couch potato during school breaks by playing outside.
Similar Expressions: Inactive person / Lazy sitter
8. Dead slow
Definition: Moving or operating at an extremely slow and lazy pace.
Used in a Sentence: The internet connection was dead slow while downloading our science video. / On a lazy Sunday morning, everything in the house feels dead slow.
Similar Expressions: Very sluggish / Super slow
9. Drag your feet
Definition: To delay taking action or move slowly because you do not want to do something.
Used in a Sentence: Whenever it is time to clean his bedroom, my brother always drags his feet. / The team began to drag their feet when the coach announced extra running laps.
Similar Expressions: Delay purposefully / Move sluggishly
10. Drift along
Definition: To move passively through life or a situation without any specific plan or effort.
Used in a Sentence: During summer vacation, she loved to just drift along without a strict schedule. / Instead of planning every hour, we decided to drift along and relax.
Similar Expressions: Go with the flow / Wander aimlessly
11. Dwell in idleness
Definition: To spend extended periods of time doing absolutely nothing productive.
Used in a Sentence: Spending the whole weekend dwelling in idleness can make you feel sleepy. / He decided to take a day off to rest rather than dwelling in idleness.
Similar Expressions: Be inactive / Waste time lazily
12. Ease off
Definition: To reduce effort, slow down, or stop working hard.
Used in a Sentence: The rain finally began to ease off after pouring for two hours straight. / The coach told us to ease off on the running drills as practice ended.
Similar Expressions: Slow down / Slacken pace
13. Finger-twiddling
Definition: Doing nothing while waiting anxiously or impatiently for something to happen.
Used in a Sentence: We spent an hour of finger-twiddling while waiting for the late train to arrive. / There is no point in finger-twiddling when we could be playing a game.
Similar Expressions: Waiting idly / Twiddling thumbs
14. Foot-dragging
Definition: The act of moving slowly or stalling because you want to avoid work.
Used in a Sentence: The committee’s foot-dragging delayed the school dance planning by a week. / Mom noticed our foot-dragging when she asked us to wash the dishes.
Similar Expressions: Stalling / Delaying tactics
15. Get off your hands
Definition: To stop sitting idly and finally take action.
Used in a Sentence: Stop sitting on your hands and help us carry these boxes inside. / It is time to get off your hands and start your science project.
Similar Expressions: Stop idling / Take action
16. Give it a rest
Definition: An expression telling someone to stop talking, working, or bothering you.
Used in a Sentence: You have been complaining about the weather all morning, so please give it a rest. / After hours of practicing piano, my fingers needed to give it a rest.
Similar Expressions: Stop it / Take a break
17. Go to seed
Definition: To become messy, neglected, and inactive through lack of care.
Used in a Sentence: The vegetable garden went to seed after we forgot to water it all summer. / Without regular practice, his drawing skills started to go to seed.
Similar Expressions: Become neglected / Deteriorate from inaction
18. Grass grow under your feet
Definition: To delay or remain completely inactive instead of making progress.
Used in a Sentence: Hurry up and pack your backpack so we don’t let grass grow under our feet. / We have work to do, so let’s not let grass grow under our feet.
Similar Expressions: Waste time / Dally
19. Hang fire
Definition: To remain temporarily inactive, delayed, or undecided about a plan.
Used in a Sentence: We decided to hang fire on buying new sports equipment until our budget was approved. / The school trip plans will hang fire until the permission slips are returned.
Similar Expressions: Delay action / Hold off
20. Have time on your hands
Definition: To have an abundance of free time with nothing special to do.
Used in a Sentence: Since summer vacation started, I have had plenty of time on my hands. / Having time on your hands is a great chance to read new adventure books.
Similar Expressions: Have free time / Be unoccupied
21. Idle hands are the devil’s workshop
Definition: People who do nothing productive often get into trouble.
Used in a Sentence: Grandma always said that idle hands are the devil’s workshop, so find a chore to do. / Keeping busy stops you from getting bored because idle hands are the devil’s workshop.
Similar Expressions: Boredom causes trouble / Inaction breeds mischief
22. In the doldrums
Definition: A state of inactivity, gloom, and lack of energy or progress.
Used in a Sentence: Our team’s scoring was stuck in the doldrums during the middle quarters. / Rainy days can put our whole household in the doldrums.
Similar Expressions: Slump / Period of inactivity
23. Kill time
Definition: To do something trivial to pass the hours when you have nothing important to do.
Used in a Sentence: We played card games in the waiting room to kill time before our appointment. / Reading comic books is a fun way to kill time on a long bus ride.
Similar Expressions: Pass the hours / Waste time pleasantly
24. Lay low
Definition: To remain quiet, hidden, and inactive to avoid notice or work.
Used in a Sentence: After finishing his chores, he liked to lay low in his room with a comic book. / The playful puppy decided to lay low behind the armchair.
Similar Expressions: Hide out / Stay quiet
25. Let sleeping dogs lie
Definition: To leave a peaceful situation alone and avoid stirring up trouble or work.
Used in a Sentence: The argument was over, so we decided to let sleeping dogs lie. / Don’t bring up that old rule debate; just let sleeping dogs lie.
Similar Expressions: Leave things alone / Avoid trouble
26. Lollygag around
Definition: To spend time wandering around lazily and doing nothing useful.
Used in a Sentence: Stop lollygagging around the hallway and get to your classroom before the bell. / We spent the afternoon lollygagging around the park without a care.
Similar Expressions: Dawdle / Waste time
27. Lounge around
Definition: To spend time sitting or lying in a relaxed, lazy way.
Used in a Sentence: Cats love to lounge around in patches of warm sunlight on the carpet. / On lazy Saturdays, I like to lounge around in my comfortable pajamas.
Similar Expressions: Relax lazily / Hang out
28. Marking time
Definition: Doing routine or inactive tasks while waiting for something important to happen.
Used in a Sentence: We were just marking time in the classroom before the school assembly began. / He felt like his career was marking time until the new manager arrived.
Similar Expressions: Waiting idly / Stalling
29. Nowhere fast
Definition: Moving or progressing at a zero pace while exerting no real effort.
Used in a Sentence: Without a proper study plan, our group was heading nowhere fast. / Trying to fix the toy without instructions got us nowhere fast.
Similar Expressions: Making no progress / Going nowhere
30. Off duty
Definition: Resting and doing no work after your shift or chores are completed.
Used in a Sentence: Once the library closed, the staff was officially off duty and ready to relax. / I am off duty from washing dishes until tomorrow evening.
Similar Expressions: Resting / Not working
31. Out of harness
Definition: Resting from work, routine duties, or daily labor.
Used in a Sentence: During holiday break, teachers and students are finally out of harness. / Grandpa loves being retired because he is permanently out of harness.
Similar Expressions: Retired / Resting from labor
32. Pass the time of day
Definition: To stop and chat idly for a moment with someone.
Used in a Sentence: My neighbor always stops to pass the time of day when I am watering plants. / We paused our walk to pass the time of day with the park ranger.
Similar Expressions: Chat casually / Exchange greetings
33. Pause for breath
Definition: To stop working briefly to rest and catch your breath.
Used in a Sentence: We ran across the field so fast that we had to pause for breath. / The busy store worker barely had time to pause for breath all morning.
Similar Expressions: Take a breather / Rest momentarily
34. Play hooky
Definition: To stay away from school or work without permission to do nothing.
Used in a Sentence: The cartoon character tried to play hooky from school to go fishing. / You should never play hooky because education is important.
Similar Expressions: Truant / Skip out
35. Pull up a chair
Definition: To sit down and relax comfortably with others.
Used in a Sentence: We have extra room at our lunch table, so please pull up a chair. / Pull up a chair and join our conversation about the science fair.
Similar Expressions: Sit down / Join in
36. Put your feet up
Definition: To sit or lie down in a relaxed posture and do nothing.
Used in a Sentence: After a long day of hiking, we put our feet up by the campfire. / Grab a pillow, put your feet up, and enjoy the movie.
Similar Expressions: Relax / Rest up
37. Rest on your oars
Definition: To stop working or relaxing after accomplishing a goal.
Used in a Sentence: We won the first match, but we cannot rest on our oars yet. / He decided to rest on his oars for a week after finishing his book.
Similar Expressions: Take a break / Coast along
38. Sit back and relax
Definition: To recline comfortably and enjoy doing nothing while someone else handles things.
Used in a Sentence: Sit back and relax while I pop some fresh popcorn for the movie. / The passengers could sit back and relax during the smooth train ride.
Similar Expressions: Unwind / Take it easy
39. Sit on your hands
Definition: To remain completely inactive and fail to take action when needed.
Used in a Sentence: We cannot just sit on our hands while our classroom needs cleaning. / When the team needed help, he sat on his hands instead of volunteering.
Similar Expressions: Do nothing / Remain passive
40. Slack off
Definition: To reduce your effort and do less work than you should.
Used in a Sentence: If you slack off on your reading practice, your skills might fade. / The team started to slack off during the final minutes of practice.
Similar Expressions: Be lazy / Ease effort
41. Sleep the clock round
Definition: To sleep continuously for twelve hours or more without waking up.
Used in a Sentence: After the exhausting camping trip, the kids slept the clock round. / Sometimes on vacation, it feels great to sleep the clock round.
Similar Expressions: Sleep all day / Rest deeply
42. Stand at ease
Definition: A military posture of relaxed standing without strict attention.
Used in a Sentence: The drill instructor told the marching band to stand at ease. / After holding the heavy banner, we were glad to stand at ease.
Similar Expressions: Stand relaxed / Take a resting stance
43. Take a breather
Definition: To take a short break from activity to rest and do nothing.
Used in a Sentence: Let us take a breather in the shade before finishing our hike up the hill. / The runner paused to take a breather after completing two laps.
Similar Expressions: Rest briefly / Stop for air
44. Take it easy
Definition: To relax, slow down, and avoid strenuous activity or stress.
Used in a Sentence: The doctor told me to take it easy for a few days after catching a cold. / On weekends, my dad loves to take it easy and read the newspaper.
Similar Expressions: Relax / Unwind
45. Thumb your fingers
Definition: To tap your fingers idly while waiting impatiently with nothing to do.
Used in a Sentence: He sat at the desk thumbing his fingers while waiting for the bell to ring. / Stop thumbing your fingers and find a book to read.
Similar Expressions: Wait impatiently / Idle nervously
46. Time on your hands
Definition: Having free hours with no tasks or obligations to fill them.
Used in a Sentence: Having time on your hands on a rainy afternoon is perfect for building puzzles. / She had so much time on her hands that she painted a picture.
Similar Expressions: Free time / Unoccupied hours
47. Tread water
Definition: To stay in the same place and make no real progress while expending minimal effort.
Used in a Sentence: Our club’s project was just treading water until we got new funding. / Without new ideas, our practice session felt like treading water.
Similar Expressions: Make no progress / Hold your ground
48. Turn off your brain
Definition: To relax completely and stop thinking about work or difficult problems.
Used in a Sentence: Watching a funny cartoon is a great way to turn off your brain after school. / Sometimes you just need to turn off your brain and listen to music.
Similar Expressions: Unplug mentally / Stop thinking
49. Wait for the dust to settle
Definition: To remain inactive and wait until a chaotic situation calms down.
Used in a Sentence: Let’s wait for the dust to settle in the hallway before walking to our lockers. / We decided to hang back and wait for the dust to settle after the argument.
Similar Expressions: Wait out the chaos / Pause until calm
50. Waste hours
Definition: To spend time doing nothing useful or productive.
Used in a Sentence: Playing video games all day can waste hours if you aren’t careful. / I like to waste hours sketching silly cartoons on scrap paper.
Similar Expressions: Idle away time / Kill hours
Exercise to Practice
- Traffic on the bridge came to a standstill during the heavy storm.
- On rainy weekends, my brother turns into an active athlete running outside.
- After finishing all my homework, I just want to chill out with a book.
- Whenever it is time to clean his bedroom, my brother always drags his feet.
- On sunny mornings, cats love to run fast miles around the neighborhood.
- Grandma always said that idle hands are the devil’s workshop, so find a chore to do.
- We played card games in the waiting room to kill time before our appointment.
- Stop lollygagging around the hallway and get to your classroom before the bell.
- After a long day of hiking, we put our feet up by the campfire.
- Watching a funny cartoon is a great way to think hard about difficult math problems.
- The doctor told me to take it easy for a few days after catching a cold.
- Having time on your hands on a rainy afternoon is perfect for building puzzles.
- Playing video games all day can waste hours if you aren’t careful.
- The school trip plans will rush forward immediately without any waiting.
- Let us take a breather in the shade before finishing our hike up the hill.
Answer Key
- True
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
- True
- True
- True
- False
- True
- True
- True
- False
- True
Conclusion
Learning these idioms helps you describe resting, relaxing, and taking breaks in fun and creative ways. Try using a few of these expressions when talking about your weekend plans or writing stories about characters taking a well-deserved pause.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some common idioms for doing nothing?
Common idioms for doing nothing include phrases like chill out, take it easy, and kill time. These expressions help describe relaxing, resting, and enjoying free time.
Why do we use idioms to talk about resting?
Idioms give us colorful and relatable ways to express everyday relaxation and downtime. They make conversations about taking breaks much more vivid and engaging than plain words.
How can I practice using relaxation idioms?
You can practice by using these phrases when writing short stories about characters enjoying weekend hobbies or resting after school. Matching them to your own downtime routines is also a great method.
Are all idioms about doing nothing negative?
No, while a few expressions like lazy couch potato can be slightly critical, most phrases like chill out and take it easy are positive and encourage healthy rest.
Can learning these idioms improve my English?
Yes, knowing these figurative expressions helps you understand everyday casual conversations, stories, and movies much better.
