1 not wanting to work hard; lazy 懒散的:
He has the ability to succeed but he is just bone (= very) idle.他有能力做得到,可就是懒骨头,不肯做。
2 not doing anything; not being used 闲散的;闲置的:
She can't bear to be idle.她这个人闲不下来。The factory stood idle while the machines were being repaired.机器进行维修时,工厂停工。
3 (only before a noun 只用于名词前) not to be taken seriously because it will not have any result 不必认真对待的:
an idle promise/threat信口许下的诺言;随便说说吓唬人的话idle chatter/curiosity随便说说;随便打听 ➔idlenessnoun [U]
➔idly /ˈaɪdli ||; ˈaɪdlɪ/ adv
idle1/ˋaIdḷ; ˈaIdl/adj 1 lazy 懒惰的﹐懒散的: That boy is bone idle (=extremely lazy). 那个男孩懒透了。2 not working or being used 不在工作的﹔闲置的: The machines are now standing idle in the factory. 这些机器现在都在工厂里闲置着。3 not serious 不认真的: an idle threat 虚张声势的威胁This is just idle gossip . 这不过是无聊的闲言碎语罢了。 —idleness n [U] —idly adv
idle2v 1 [I] if an engine idles, it runs slowly while the vehicle is not moving〔发动机低速地〕空转 2 [I,T] to spend time doing nothing 闲混﹐无所事事: Don’t just idle your time away. 不要虚度光阴。