idleness
/ˈaɪdlnəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈaɪdlnəs/ (ame, ipa)
idleness — noun
1. a situation where a machine, factory, or piece of land is not being used or prod
a situation where a machine, factory, or piece of land is not being used or producing anything for a period of time
Months of idleness left the old paper mill rusting beside the river in Brandon's hometown.
subject is a machine or facility no longer in operation
The crane's long idleness during the strike cost the construction company nearly two million dollars.
noun + during + event causing the stoppage
Wren blamed the factory's idleness on the sudden drop in customer orders last winter.
Years of idleness had turned the family's farmland into a wild meadow full of yellow flowers.
After three months of idleness, the fishing boats finally returned to the harbour at dawn.
- inactivity
broader; covers people and things, less focused on production loss
- disuse
emphasises the state of being abandoned rather than a temporary pause
- operation
the state of a machine or facility actively running
用法筆記
Subject is typically a machine, factory, vehicle, or piece of land — not a person. Distinguish from sense 2 (people without jobs) and sense 3 (lazy character).
2. the situation in which a person has no paid work, often against their own wishes
the situation in which a person has no paid work, often against their own wishes, especially over a long stretch of time
After the mine closed, Min spent two years of unwanted idleness searching for any job nearby.
unwanted / forced + idleness for involuntary joblessness
The long idleness following his injury made Emre feel useless and disconnected from his old workmates.
Many older workers fear the idleness that often follows being pushed into early retirement.
Sivan filled the empty hours of idleness with reading, walking by the sea, and writing short stories.
Forced idleness during the recession pushed thousands of skilled engineers out of the country.
- unemployment
the standard term; more neutral and statistical
- joblessness
everyday equivalent; less formal
- employment
the state of having paid work
用法筆記
Refers to the condition of being without paid work, viewed as an external circumstance rather than a character trait. Distinguish from sense 3, where the lack of work comes from the person's own unwillingness.
3. the habit of avoiding work or effort because a person is lazy, viewed as a fault
the habit of avoiding work or effort because a person is lazy, viewed as a fault in their character
Sirin scolded her teenage son for his idleness and told him to find a weekend job soon.
idleness as a personal fault, often criticised by others
Old folk sayings often warn that idleness leads people into bad habits and trouble.
idleness as the subject of a moral lesson
Meera's grandmother believed that idleness was a worse sickness than any cold or fever.
Years of idleness had made Gabriela's cousin unable to keep even a simple part-time job.
The teacher told the class that idleness in school often turns into regret in later life.
- diligence
the habit of working hard and steadily
- industriousness
the quality of working with energy and focus
用法筆記
Used to describe a moral or character flaw; the person is seen as choosing not to work hard. Distinguish from sense 2, where the person wants a job but cannot find one.