lain idle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lain idle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something or someone that has been left in a state of inactivity or rest. Example: "After the project was completed, the equipment lay idle in the warehouse for months."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

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

The Guardian

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

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

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

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

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

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Power plants lie idle.

The Economist

It is lying idle".

The Guardian

Don't lie idle.

The Guardian

Swathes of production capacity lie idle.

The Economist

(There were three separate camera crews, often lying idle).

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lain idle" to describe resources, equipment, or land that has been out of use for a significant period, particularly when emphasizing the potential for future use or the waste of resources.

Common error

Ensure you use the correct form of the verb 'lie'. "Lain" is the past participle of 'lie', indicating a state of rest or inactivity, while 'lay' is the past tense of 'lay', meaning to place something down. Therefore, avoid saying "lay idle" when you mean "lain idle".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lain idle" functions as a verb phrase, typically following a form of 'have' or 'has' to form the present perfect tense. It describes a state of inactivity or disuse. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lain idle" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe a state of inactivity or disuse. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is most commonly found in news and media contexts, often implying a sense of wasted resources or potential for future use. While not extremely common, its usage is appropriate in neutral to professional registers. When using "lain idle", ensure you differentiate it from the verb "lay". Consider alternatives like "remained inactive", "stayed dormant", or "been unused" to provide variety in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Remained inactive

Focuses on the lack of action, highlighting a state of non-activity.

Stayed dormant

Suggests a temporary state of suspended activity, implying potential for future use.

Been unused

Emphasizes the lack of utilization, indicating that something has not been put to its intended purpose.

Was stagnant

Implies a lack of progress or movement, often with negative connotations.

Rested untouched

Highlights the absence of physical interaction or manipulation.

Lie fallow

Used especially about agricultural land, left uncultivated in order to recover its fertility.

Become defunct

Indicates a state of no longer being in use or operation.

Became obsolete

Highlights that the reason for disuse is because of being out of date.

Went to waste

Stresses the negative aspect of non-utilization, implying a loss of potential value.

Left gathering dust

Emphasizes disuse with neglect, creating an imagery of an object covered with dust as no one cares for it.

FAQs

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

You can use "lain idle" to describe something that has been inactive or unused for a period of time. For example, "The equipment had "lain idle" in the warehouse since the project's completion."

What's a good synonym for "lain idle"?

Alternatives to "lain idle" include "remained inactive", "stayed dormant", or "been unused", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "lay idle" instead of "lain idle"?

No, "lay idle" is grammatically incorrect when describing a state of being. "Lain" is the past participle of "lie", which is the correct verb to use when something is in a state of inactivity. "Lay" is the past tense of the verb "to lay", which means to place something.

What does it mean when something is described as having "lain idle"?

When something has "lain idle", it means that it has been inactive, unused, or not functioning for a certain period. This often implies that the thing in question could be put to use again, or that its inactivity is a waste of resources.