idle question

USAGE SUMMARY

"idle question" is correct and usable in written English.
It means a question that does not have any important purpose or significance. For example, "Why does the sky turn purple at night?" is an idle question.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

It was no idle question.

The Economist

This is no idle question.

The New York Times - Books

This is not an idle question.

The New York Times

WHAT makes people psychopaths is not an idle question.

The Economist

For the media industry, it is no idle question.

The New York Times

At the time, that was no idle question.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

These are not idle questions.

The New York Times

As electric guitars blare, rock-concert-style video screens show close-ups of the performers, occasionally inspiring idle questions about the Mormon Church's attitude toward cosmetic surgery.

The New York Times

These aren't just idle questions but matters of immediate relevance in the war against obesity, the stakes of which were just raised.

The New York Times

It is possible to ask huge, idle questions about life and death and not to worry too much about the answers.

The Guardian

I cannot see why Shaw was called a hermit, a snob, etc., when he — out of almost the whole world, being childless and singleminded — was merely a self-preserver, wasting no time on the ordinary day, idle questions, etc.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "idle question" when you want to dismiss a question as unimportant or irrelevant to the current discussion. It's more impactful than simply saying the question is 'silly' or 'unnecessary'.

Common error

While "idle question" is acceptable, consider stronger synonyms like "irrelevant question" or "inconsequential inquiry" in formal or academic contexts for a more precise and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "idle question" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "idle" modifies the noun "question". It describes a question that lacks importance or relevance. As evidenced by Ludwig, it's often used to dismiss inquiries as inconsequential.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "idle question" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe a question that is unimportant or irrelevant. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is generally correct and appears frequently in diverse contexts, particularly in news and media. While acceptable, stronger synonyms might be preferred in more formal settings. When writing, use "idle question" to dismiss a query effectively. The phrase's versatility and recognizable meaning make it a valuable addition to one's vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pointless inquiry

Replaces "question" with "inquiry" emphasizing the lack of purpose.

trivial question

Substitutes "idle" with "trivial", highlighting the question's insignificance.

unnecessary question

Replaces "idle" with "unnecessary", indicating the question wasn't needed.

irrelevant question

Uses "irrelevant" to stress the question's lack of connection to the matter at hand.

unimportant question

Emphasizes the question's lack of significance by using "unimportant".

meaningless question

Replaces "idle" with "meaningless", focusing on the question's lack of substance.

futile question

Substitutes "idle" with "futile", conveying the question's ineffectiveness.

otiose question

Uses the less common "otiose" to describe the question as serving no practical purpose.

shallow question

Emphasizes the lack of depth or seriousness of the question.

superfluous question

Replaces "idle" with "superfluous", suggesting the question is excessive or unnecessary.

FAQs

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

You can use "idle question" to dismiss a query that seems unimportant or irrelevant to the ongoing discussion. For example, "Whether we have coffee or tea is an "idle question" given the budget cuts we're facing."

What's a good substitute for "idle question"?

Alternatives to "idle question" include "pointless inquiry", "trivial question", or "unnecessary question", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "an idle question" or "a idle question"?

The correct phrasing is "an idle question" because "idle" starts with a vowel sound. The article "an" is used before words beginning with vowel sounds.

What's the difference between "idle question" and "rhetorical question"?

An "idle question" is unimportant or irrelevant, while a "rhetorical question" is asked for effect and doesn't require an answer. They serve different purposes in communication.