has lain idle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has lain idle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has been inactive or not in use for a period of time. Example: "The machinery has lain idle for months due to a lack of funding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Behind where the post office used to be, a huge chunk of land has lain idle for years.

The Guardian

The deal, worth up to €110m ($156m), will allow Saab to reopen its plant in Sweden, which has lain idle for six weeks as it has struggled to pay suppliers.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The company is to reopen four manufacturing plants two in the United States, one in Australia and one in Germany that have lain idle since November.

The Economist

Some quarter of a million homes have lain idle for more than six months; adding in commercial property that could be converted to homes, the boost to the active housing stock would be substantial.

Independent

Kahn pointed out that a dollar spent on public works might generate more than a dollar of output if the spending circulated repeatedly through the economy, stimulating resources that might otherwise have lain idle.Today's economists disagree over the size of this multiplier.

The Economist

At Dow Chemical, where travel was severely curtailed last week, the company's internal videoconferencing "help desk" oversaw a doubling of activity on its 120 conferencing systems around the world, which had often lain idle in the past.

The New York Times

The New Yorker, August 21 , 1937P. 36 The Leviathan has been lying idle at a pier in Hoboken for almost three years.

The New Yorker

By Jack Alexander The New Yorker, August 21 , 1937P. 36 The Leviathan has been lying idle at a pier in Hoboken for almost three years.

The New Yorker

In-house facilities have been lying idle while the BBC has been paying for ones that its producers have chosen to buy from outside.

The Economist

In the northern region of China known as Inner Mongolia, half of the processing facilities of the nation's largest cashmere company, Erdos, have been lying idle this year, and herders have been eating their goats, which have become less valuable as cashmere generators than they are as dinner.

The New Yorker

But when the recovery arrives, Friedman suggested, it is all the more forceful because these resources have been lying idle, waiting to be brought back into production.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the state of facilities or equipment, use "has lain idle" to convey a sense of prolonged inactivity, suggesting that it could be reactivated or brought back into use. For example, "The factory's machinery has lain idle for years, awaiting new investment".

Common error

A common mistake is using "lying" instead of "lain." Remember that "lain" is the past participle of "lie," used with auxiliary verbs like "has," while "lying" is the present participle. Therefore, it's correct to say "has lain idle," not "has lying idle."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has lain idle" functions as a verb phrase indicating a state of inactivity or disuse. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness, and the provided examples demonstrate its usage in describing tangible resources like land and equipment that have been out of service.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has lain idle" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe prolonged inactivity or disuse, particularly of tangible resources. Ludwig confirms its validity and showcases examples primarily from news and media sources, indicating a neutral to professional register. While less common than other similar phrases, it effectively conveys a sense of static inactivity, with the potential for future reactivation. Avoid confusing "lain" with "lying", and consider context when choosing it over alternatives. The linguistic analysis confirms that this phrase, though infrequent, clearly communicates a state of prolonged non-use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has remained unused

This alternative emphasizes the lack of utilization over a period, similar to "has lain idle".

has been inactive

This phrase focuses on the state of not being active or operational.

has been out of service

Implies that the subject was once operational but is currently not.

has stood dormant

Suggests a state of potential activity that is currently suppressed.

has been fallow

Specifically used in agricultural contexts to describe land not being cultivated.

has been mothballed

Indicates that something has been preserved in a state of readiness for future use, but is currently inactive.

has been gathering dust

Idiomatic expression suggesting neglect and lack of use over time.

has been non-operational

Focuses on the inability to operate or function.

has ceased functioning

Emphasizes the termination of a working state.

has become defunct

Indicates something that is no longer in effect or use.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "has lain idle" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "has remained unused" or "has been inactive". These alternatives maintain a professional tone while conveying the same meaning.

What's the difference between "has lain idle" and "has been idle"?

"Has lain idle" implies a sense of prolonged inactivity, suggesting something has been in a static state for some time. "Has been idle" is a more general statement about a period of inactivity without necessarily implying a static state. The former is often used to describe something that could be reactivated, while the latter is a broader description of non-use.

Is it correct to say "has laid idle" instead of "has lain idle"?

No, "has laid idle" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "has lain idle," where "lain" is the past participle of the verb "to lie," meaning to be in a resting or inactive state. "Laid" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "to lay," which means to put or place something down.

Can I use "has lain idle" to describe a person?

While technically grammatically correct, "has lain idle" is typically used to describe objects, facilities, or resources that have been inactive. To describe a person's inactivity, it's more common to use phrases like "has been inactive", "has been unemployed", or "has been resting", depending on the context.