The phrase "watch idly" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means to observe something without purpose or intention. Example: The children sat on the bench, watching idly as the ducks swam in the pond.
A black-eagle mother will watch idly while her bigger chick rips her smaller one to ribbons.
But to stand and watch idly and do nothing—I think people will regret if things go along and they didn't offer up their very best".
At the same time, with hard-line military officers hovering and their own rhetoric pumping up the people, they cannot watch idly as Taiwan escapes.
The sound of litter-raking could be heard; then the cat returned to sniff the foot extended its way and once more retreated, to watch idly as Mr. Takenouchi laboriously removed his clothes in a doorway.
First, Mr. Bush made clear to his aides that he was distressed with the state of the campaign, telling them that it had to be more aggressive and not watch idly as Mr. McCain persuaded voters that he was the only reformer in the race.
At the same time, secular Jews watch idly by.
As Mr. Farhad watches idly, a stranger enters the frame with a knapsack on his back.
Tinkering may be better than watching idly, but more substantial — and politically risky — moves will be required to get the financial beast under control.
The European Central Bank might seek a compromise and take less controversial steps to show it is not watching idly as the banking crisis becomes more acute.
The Trump administration's friendly and intensive contacts with the Orban government represent a radical departure: It watches idly as Orban dismantles his nation's democratic institutions.
But the alternative to engagement is less palatable still: We may find ourselves watching idly as the alt-right slides further into violent extremism.
