twiddle (one's) thumbs

To wait idly because one cannot take action or has nothing to do at the moment. Although the phrase refers to an actual movement of the hand (in which one's fingers are interlaced and each thumb is brought over the other in succession), the phrase is usually used figuratively. I'm just twiddling my thumbs here in the ER, waiting for someone to give me an update on Claire's condition.

See also: thumb, twiddle

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

twiddle one's thumbs

Fig. to pass the time by twirling one's thumbs. What am I supposed to do while waiting for you? Sit here and twiddle my thumbs? Don't sit around twiddling your thumbs. Get busy!

See also: thumb, twiddle

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

twiddle one's thumbs

Be bored or idle, as in There I sat for three hours, twiddling my thumbs, while he made call after call. This expression alludes to the habit of idly turning one's thumbs about one another during a period of inactivity. [Mid-1800s]

See also: thumb, twiddle

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

twiddle your thumbs

be bored or idle because you have nothing to do.

See also: thumb, twiddle

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

ˌtwiddle your ˈthumbs

(informal) do nothing while you are waiting for something to happen: I had to sit at home twiddling my thumbs, waiting for the phone to ring.

If you twiddle your thumbs, you move them around each other while your fingers are joined together.

See also: thumb, twiddle

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

twiddle one’s thumbs

tv. to do nothing; to wait nervously, playing with one’s fingers. I sat twiddling my thumbs while you were out doing I don’t know what all!

See also: thumb, twiddle

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

twiddle (one's) thumbs

To do little or nothing; be idle.

See also: thumb, twiddle

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

See also:

be twiddling (one's) thumbs
be twiddling your thumbs
Heinz
Heinz 57
Heinz 57 (variety)
Heinz 57 variety
57
a penny for them
(as) sure as eggs (is eggs)
sure as eggs is eggs

词组	twiddle (one's) thumbs
释义	twiddle (one's) thumbs twiddle (one's) thumbs To wait idly because one cannot take action or has nothing to do at the moment. Although the phrase refers to an actual movement of the hand (in which one's fingers are interlaced and each thumb is brought over the other in succession), the phrase is usually used figuratively. I'm just twiddling my thumbs here in the ER, waiting for someone to give me an update on Claire's condition. See also: thumb, twiddle Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. twiddle one's thumbs Fig. to pass the time by twirling one's thumbs. What am I supposed to do while waiting for you? Sit here and twiddle my thumbs? Don't sit around twiddling your thumbs. Get busy! See also: thumb, twiddle McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. twiddle one's thumbs Be bored or idle, as in There I sat for three hours, twiddling my thumbs, while he made call after call. This expression alludes to the habit of idly turning one's thumbs about one another during a period of inactivity. [Mid-1800s] See also: thumb, twiddle The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. twiddle your thumbs be bored or idle because you have nothing to do. See also: thumb, twiddle Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary ˌtwiddle your ˈthumbs (informal) do nothing while you are waiting for something to happen: I had to sit at home twiddling my thumbs, waiting for the phone to ring. If you twiddle your thumbs, you move them around each other while your fingers are joined together. See also: thumb, twiddle Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary twiddle one’s thumbs tv. to do nothing; to wait nervously, playing with one’s fingers. I sat twiddling my thumbs while you were out doing I don’t know what all! See also: thumb, twiddle McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions twiddle (one's) thumbs To do little or nothing; be idle. See also: thumb, twiddle American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. See also: be twiddling (one's) thumbs be twiddling your thumbs Heinz Heinz 57 Heinz 57 (variety) Heinz 57 variety 57 a penny for them (as) sure as eggs (is eggs) sure as eggs is eggs
随便看	a wise guy a wise man of Gotham awkward awkward age awkward as a cow on a crutch awkwardness awkward squad awoke AWOL a wolf in sheep's clothing a woman after (one's) own heart a woman for all seasons a woman is as old as she admits a woman, man, person, etc. of substance a woman of few words a woman of her word a woman's place is in the home a woman's work is never done a wonder lasts but nine days a wooden nickel a wooden nutmeg a word in (one's) ear a word in someone's ear a word of praise is equal to ointment on a sore a word (once) spoken cannot be recalled