idle crowd

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "idle crowd" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a group of people who are not engaged in any activity or are simply loitering without purpose. Example: "The idle crowd gathered in the park, chatting and enjoying the sunny afternoon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

On the afternoon of the day the Disaster Control Board took over the city, we were part of a smiling, idle crowd which armed with infants, cameras, and portable radios, seemed to fill every nook and dingle of Central Park... View Article By Miranda Carter By Amos Barshad By Jia Tolentino By Doreen St. Félix.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

(8) Only idle mobile crowd system can enter a state of transfer and join the cooperative data collection.  .

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

On a recent evening, a crowd idled downtown along Enhesarat Street, waiting for cars and minivans amid a cacophony of horns and engines.

The New York Times

There were also three benches that were meant to be used only by those who bought tea, though the idle gossips who crowded the shop and never spent any money occupied the seats most of the time.

The New Yorker

People started lining up hours before he was due and there was the standard idle chitchat of a crowd forced to wait.

The Guardian

As a result, the government expects a $500m hole in its budget, which it will beg donors to fill.In Shari Now park, central Kabul, the lean times are manifest in crowds of idle men, fighting partridges, playing board-games, or staring into space.

The Economist

Her blue campaign bus was idling nearby, but as the crowd waited for her to arrive, an aide was busy arranging the crowd, saying into a loudspeaker, "We need to fill in the crowd and make it look nice and tight for our national media guys".

The New York Times

"Two belt sanders sit idle, side by side, as the crowd grows silent," begins the introduction to the International Belt Sander Drag Race Association (www.beltsander-races.com).

The New York Times - Tech

The government has shut down schools, universities and trains running to and from the city, leaving crowds of young people idle and many people with no way to get home.

The New York Times

By contrast Carlos Amorales's "Spider Galaxy" courted the idle passer-by and the hurried lunchtime crowd.

The New York Times - Arts

The, "idle hands are the devil's workshop" crowd will always be with us.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "idle crowd", consider the context to ensure it accurately reflects the group's inactivity. Is it due to leisure, unemployment, or another reason? Be specific to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "idle" when you mean playful or jovial. "Idle" suggests inactivity and a lack of purpose, not necessarily enjoyment. For a playful crowd, consider terms like "festive" or "jovial" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "idle crowd" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "idle" modifies the noun "crowd". According to Ludwig AI, it describes a group of people who are not actively engaged in any particular activity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "idle crowd" is a phrase used to describe a group of people who are not actively engaged in any particular activity. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for general use. While not very common, the phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts. Alternatives such as "inactive group" or "unoccupied gathering" can be used to express similar meanings, depending on the specific shade of meaning you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inactive group

Replaces "idle" with "inactive", emphasizing a lack of action or movement.

unoccupied gathering

Substitutes "crowd" with "gathering" and "idle" with "unoccupied", suggesting a group with no specific activity.

leisurely assembly

Replaces "idle" with "leisurely", highlighting a relaxed and unhurried nature, and "crowd" with "assembly."

passive throng

Uses "passive" instead of "idle", emphasizing a lack of active participation, and "throng" in place of "crowd".

aimless gathering

Emphasizes the lack of purpose by using "aimless" instead of "idle".

stationary cluster

Focuses on the lack of movement by using "stationary" instead of "idle" and "cluster" in place of "crowd".

listless group

Replaces "idle" with "listless", suggesting a lack of enthusiasm or energy.

drifting assembly

Suggests a lack of direction or purpose by using "drifting" to describe the group.

loitering people

Focuses on the act of lingering without purpose, replacing "idle crowd" with a more direct description.

dawdling throng

Uses "dawdling" to describe the slow and aimless movement of the crowd.

FAQs

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

You can use "idle crowd" to describe a group of people who are not actively engaged in any activity. For example, "The "idle crowd" gathered in the park, watching the street performers."

What is a good synonym for "idle crowd"?

Alternatives include "inactive group", "unoccupied gathering", or "leisurely assembly", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "idle crowd" a negative term?

It can be, depending on the context. It often implies a lack of productivity or purpose, which can be seen negatively. However, it can also simply describe a group at rest or during leisure time.

What's the difference between "idle crowd" and "gathering"?

A "gathering" is a general term for people coming together. An ""idle crowd"" specifies that the people are not actively doing anything; they're simply present without a specific purpose or activity.