rendered idle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rendered idle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state where something has been made inactive or non-functional, often due to external circumstances. Example: "Due to the power outage, the machinery was rendered idle until the electricity was restored."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Boosting defense spending will put to work some of the people and machines that have been rendered idle by recession.

The New Yorker

Georges's violent proclivities are France's; his psychologizing is France's, and his hysterical amour fou comes off as a sublimation of a violent nature rendered idle.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This gossipy streak is rendered less idle by the novel's fierce obsession with death, which consumes many of the book's characters and haunts all the rest.

The New York Times

That comment is worthy of inclusion in an Understatement of the Year competition, for Fallon's move to California has coincided with a swollen jockey pool rendered increasingly more idle by racetrack closures and, paradoxically, shrinking field sizes.

The Guardian - Sport

"Even in areas unaffected, or quickly recovering, post-Irene reports have resulted in cancellations of tours and travel plans that have rendered tourist-dependent businesses idle and beds across the state's hotels and inns empty," according to a statement on VermontPartners.org, the Web site for the state's special, post-Irene tourism task force.

The New York Times - Travel

In a world of inhomogeneous climate policy, missing out policies on either production or consumption leaves an important policy area idle, rendering climate policy inefficient and potentially ineffective.

Global Environmental Change

Both were now lying idle in the Thames estuary, having been rendered useless the previous year by Harold Wilson's government, which had criminalized the pirate stations with the Marine & Broadcasting Offences Act of 1967.

The Guardian

In many machine repair systems, it has been often seen that the service rendered by the permanent repairman becomes too expensive as it may be idle most of the times.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

But I was in my early 20's and it was idle time spent thinking and digesting words that were cathartic -- which rendered that train ride idyllic.

Huffington Post

The sounds of the idle, the stop and the handbrake were wonderfully logical and reassuring, like muscle memory rendered audible.

The New York Times

THAT idle diversion for music lovers — composing a list of all-time favorite recordings or "desert island" discs — has been rendered more inane by the advent of the iPod.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rendered idle" to specifically indicate that something was previously active or in use, but is now inactive due to a particular cause or circumstance.

Common error

Avoid using "rendered idle" when the inactivity is due to natural or inherent properties, rather than an external cause. Instead use terms like "naturally idle" or "inherently inactive".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rendered idle" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that something has been made inactive or non-functional by an external force. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rendered idle" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English, though rare in occurrence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes something made inactive due to external factors. It's best used when specifying the cause of inactivity is important. While it can be used in many contexts, news and media tend to use the phrase the most.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made inactive

Focuses on the state of being inactive, less emphasis on the cause.

made non-operational

A more formal and technical way of saying something cannot be used.

put out of service

Suggests a temporary removal from operation, often for maintenance or repair.

deactivated

Implies a deliberate action to make something non-functional.

disabled

Suggests an impairment or inability to function, possibly permanently.

brought to a standstill

Emphasizes the cessation of movement or activity.

taken offline

Specifically refers to removing something from an online or networked system.

left unused

Highlights the lack of utilization rather than a forced state of inactivity.

left fallow

Similar to "left unused" but typically used in agriculture context.

become obsolete

Focuses on something outdated and no longer useful or needed.

FAQs

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

You can use "rendered idle" to describe a situation where something that was previously active has been made inactive due to certain circumstances. For example, "The factory was "rendered idle" due to the economic downturn."

What are some alternatives to "rendered idle"?

Some alternatives to "rendered idle" include "made inactive", "put out of service", or "deactivated". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "considered idle" instead of "rendered idle"?

While both phrases can relate to inactivity, "rendered idle" implies an action or event caused the inactivity, whereas "considered idle" suggests a perception or judgment of inactivity. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the cause or the perception.

What is the difference between "rendered useless" and "rendered idle"?

"Rendered useless" implies that something is no longer functional or effective for its intended purpose. "Rendered idle" specifically indicates that something is inactive or not in operation, but it may still be functional if activated. The key difference is the implication of functionality versus mere activity.