idle hand
collocation in Englishmeaningsofidleandhand
These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withhand.
idle
adjective
uk/ˈaɪ.dəl/us/ˈaɪ.dəl/
not working or ...
See more atidle
hand
noun
uk/hænd/us/hænd/
the part of the body at the end of the arm that is used for holding, moving, touching, and ...
See more athand
(Definition ofidleandhandfrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)
Examplesofidle hand
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
This safety feature prevented workers from inadvertently placing anidlehandor arm inside the presses when they were in operation.
From
Wikipedia
Idle hands and empty stomachs are no good to a country.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
The idle hands have turned themselves from self-aggrandisement to mischief-making.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Idle hands are the very things that get people into trouble.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It is idle hands which usually get into trouble.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It can also help to occupy idle hands, and thereby remove what some people regard as one of the many causes of crime.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
However, something could be done to ensure that there are as few idle hands as possible.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
The widespread use of the spotter system has put an end to idle hands and idle machines when there is no immediate risk of attack.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
The only thing that their idle hands will do is cause trouble.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Idle hands are costly hands to a country if one looks at it purely from the economic point of view.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It has been recognised for generations that idle hands create mischief, and that saying is as true today as it ever was.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It makes no sense to have an economy containing idle hands, idle resources and idle plant.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Productive hands are an advantage to the nation while idle hands are a drain on those still in employment.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
That reality also faces the thousands of young men who hoped to work in the industry, but who now have idle hands.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
The number of idle hands may be relevant to the problems of the area.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
However, when the training was first brought in, its object was to occupy idle hands and reduce the size of dole queues.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
There are idle hands wanting to get to work.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Let me take the second argument, as to the employment of idle hands at full wages.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It is true that idle hands have not yet produced one dollar's worth of exports.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Want to learn more?
Go to the definition ofidle
Go to the definition ofhand
See other collocations withhand