they were idle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were idle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of inactivity or lack of work, often in reference to people or machines. Example: "During the long summer break, the students were idle, spending their days lounging by the pool."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

"I'm hoping they were idle threats.

The Guardian

They were idle that day and Boston moved ahead of them.

The New York Times - Sports

The Nets were triumphant tonight even though they were idle, winning another Atlantic Division title thanks to the Chicago Bulls.

The New York Times - Sports

He works for the Broncos' flagship station, and even when they were idle last week, Krieger said, he fielded calls that were mostly about the N.F.L.

The New York Times - Sports

With no city-subsidized kitchen available, Ms. Helding knocked on doors of churches, asking if she could bake in their ovens when they were idle, she said.

The New York Times

They were idle, lazy, and dim-witted, cursed with the inferior "breeding" that once underwrote a Progressive interest in eugenicist population control.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Cargill executives said they were idling the plant and not permanently closing it, and it could reopen if the drought breaks and the cattle herd rebounds, a process that would take years.

The New York Times

The team began by using tools like Intercom and Zopim to communicate with their customers but realized that they would prefer to access customer chats within Slack simply because that's where they were idling anyway.

TechCrunch

The workers will execute the context statement when they are idle or have completed their current task.

Yale University

The idea of dynamic power management is to shut down parts of a design when they are idle.

System-on-Chip Test Architectures Nanometer Design for Testability

In 1753, Wesley said: "… so wickedly, devilishly false is that common objection, 'They are poor, only because they are idle'".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were idle" to clearly convey a state of inactivity, whether referring to people, machines, or other entities. Ensure the context makes it clear what is not being done.

Common error

Avoid confusing "idle" with "idol". "Idle" refers to inactivity, while "idol" refers to an object of worship or admiration. Ensure your spelling is correct to avoid miscommunication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were idle" functions as a descriptive statement, indicating a state of inactivity or lack of engagement. Ludwig examples show it describing people, machines, or systems not actively working. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were idle" is a grammatically correct and usable English phrase that describes a state of inactivity. Ludwig AI validates its correctness. While relatively infrequent, it is most commonly found in News & Media sources, followed by Science. Related phrases include "they were inactive" and "they were unoccupied". When using the phrase, ensure you're not confusing "idle" with "idol". It's important to note that saying "they were idle" indicates only a lack of activity, while saying "they were lazy" implies a negative character judgment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were inactive

Replaces "idle" with a direct synonym, emphasizing a lack of activity.

they were unoccupied

Focuses on the absence of any task or occupation, similar to being idle.

they were doing nothing

A more explicit way of saying they were not engaged in any activity.

they were at rest

Suggests a state of being still and not working, implying a more peaceful inactivity.

they were dormant

Implies a temporary state of inactivity, suggesting a potential for future activity.

they were passive

Emphasizes a lack of active participation or resistance.

they were inert

Suggests a state of lacking the ability or strength to move or act.

they were inoperative

Focuses on a state of not being in working order or effect, often used for machines or systems.

they were unemployed

Specifically refers to being without a job or work.

they were unengaged

Highlights a lack of involvement or participation.

FAQs

What does "they were idle" mean?

The phrase "they were idle" means that a group of people or things were not actively engaged in any work or activity. It implies a state of inactivity or being unoccupied.

What can I say instead of "they were idle"?

You can use alternatives like "they were inactive", "they were unoccupied", or "they were doing nothing" to express a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "they are idle" instead of "they were idle"?

Yes, both are grammatically correct, but they refer to different time frames. "They are idle" implies a current state of inactivity, while "they were idle" refers to a past state.

What is the difference between "they were idle" and "they were lazy"?

"They were idle" simply indicates a lack of activity, while "they were lazy" suggests a reluctance to work or make an effort. "They were lazy" implies a negative judgment about their character, whereas "they were idle" is more neutral.