idle audience

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "idle audience" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a group of people who are passively observing or listening without active engagement or participation. Example: "The speaker struggled to captivate the idle audience, who seemed more interested in their phones than the presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

TechCrunch

WikiHow

The Guardian - Tech

Forbes

BBC

The New York Times

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That effort may ultimately be at odds with the more idle audience Peek's creators are apparently aiming for, although the app's gestural dare and flare — and purist good looks — will undoubtedly push the buttons of tech aesthetes and attract a style-conscious app-using niche.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

DO NOT ever tell idle audiences who have nothing to do with the situation and will not help.

WikiHow

All that matters are those photos, the workmen holding the cartridges aloft like relics, triumphing over the past for an audience of idle internet surfers, searching for authenticity among the buzzfeeds and promoted tweets.

The Guardian - Tech

The difference is increasingly not between one sector over another, but between passion and novelty, dedicated audience versus idle distraction.

TechCrunch

Any one of those passive eyeballs has the ability to begin spawning this type of viral content and summoning a remote audience of idle eyeballs to watch.

TechCrunch

Idle Jack, the cheeky chappie, confided to the audience that the beauteous Alice Fitzwarren said she'd marry him when he grew up.

Forbes

We're all publishers now, and thanks to social media and digital broadcast networks like Twitter our idle musings can reach massive global audiences, hitting far more eyeballs than the graffiti scrawled on the proverbial toilet door ever could.

TechCrunch

Idle - who will direct - said the audience should expect "comedy, pathos, music and a tiny piece of ancient sex".

BBC

Tugg is a means for filmmakers and promoters to rally audiences, taking advantage of what might be otherwise idle screen time at multiplexes and rep houses.

Huffington Post

In his Before Sunrise movies, Richard Linklater got audiences to hang out with people who were talkative, idle, interested in sex and clever.

The Guardian - Film

Ms. Farber will now see how New York audiences respond to her take on Strindberg's play, about an idle young rich woman who has an affair with her father's footman.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an audience, consider whether "idle" accurately reflects their state. Alternatives like "passive", "unengaged", or "inattentive" might be more precise depending on the context.

Common error

Be careful not to assume an "idle audience" is necessarily disinterested. They may be receptive but simply not actively participating at the moment.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "idle audience" is to act as a noun phrase, where "idle" modifies the noun "audience". Ludwig provides examples where this phrase is used to describe the state of a group of people.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

TechCrunch

20%

Less common in

Forbes

10%

BBC

5%

The New York Times

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "idle audience" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe an audience that is not actively engaged or participating. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, although the phrase appears infrequently in common usage. Alternative terms like "passive spectators" or "disengaged listeners" may provide more nuanced descriptions depending on the context. While the term isn't inherently negative, it's important to avoid assuming disinterest when describing an audience as "idle". The term sees sporadic use across News & Media, Wiki and TechCrunch.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Passive spectators

Replaces "audience" with "spectators" and "idle" with "passive", emphasizing lack of activity.

Inattentive viewers

Substitutes "audience" with "viewers" and "idle" with "inattentive", highlighting their lack of attention.

Unresponsive crowd

Replaces "audience" with "crowd" and "idle" with "unresponsive", focusing on the lack of reaction.

Disengaged listeners

Swaps "audience" with "listeners" and "idle" with "disengaged", pinpointing their lack of involvement.

Apathetic onlookers

Changes "audience" to "onlookers" and "idle" to "apathetic", highlighting their lack of interest.

Lethargic attendees

Replaces "audience" with "attendees" and "idle" with "lethargic", emphasizing their sluggishness.

Uninterested observers

Substitutes "audience" with "observers" and "idle" with "uninterested", focusing on their lack of interest.

Complacent public

Replaces "audience" with "public" and "idle" with "complacent", highlighting their self-satisfaction and lack of concern.

Indifferent assembly

Swaps "audience" with "assembly" and "idle" with "indifferent", pinpointing their lack of concern.

Unoccupied gathering

Changes "audience" to "gathering" and "idle" to "unoccupied", highlighting the lack of activity or purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "idle audience" in a sentence?

You can use "idle audience" to describe a group of people who are present but not actively engaged. For example: "The comedian struggled to connect with the "idle audience", who seemed more interested in their phones."

What are some alternatives to "idle audience"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "passive spectators", "inattentive viewers", or "disengaged listeners".

Is it always negative to describe an audience as "idle"?

Not necessarily. While "idle" can imply a lack of engagement, it can also simply describe a state of being where the audience is not actively participating but may still be receptive.

What is the difference between "idle audience" and "captive audience"?

"Idle audience" refers to a group that is not actively engaged, while "captive audience" refers to a group that is required to be present, regardless of their interest or engagement.