sit still

sit still — idiom

1. to stay seated and keep your body quiet, without fidgeting or changing position,

1.慣用語不及物B1
釋義

to stay seated and keep your body quiet, without fidgeting or changing position, especially when you are expected to be calm or patient.

例句

The children could not sit still during the two-hour wedding ceremony.

collocation: cannot sit still — common with can't, couldn't

Chiara told her puppy to sit still while she put on its leash.

pattern: tell + someone + to sit still

同義詞
  • stay put

    more general — can apply to any position, not just sitting

  • keep still

    same meaning but can apply to standing, lying down, etc.

  • freeze

    more urgent and dramatic; often used in emergencies

反義詞
  • fidget

    to make small restless movements while seated

  • squirm

    to twist the body, often because of discomfort or nervousness

文法句型

subject + sit still

often used as an imperative

用法筆記

Common in imperatives (e.g. 'Sit still!'). Frequently used with modal verbs like can't, couldn't, or won't to describe a lack of patience or restlessness.

常見錯誤

❌Please sit down still while the doctor examines you.
✅Please sit still while the doctor examines you.
💡'sit still' already means to remain seated; adding 'down' is redundant.
❌I sat still for hours in my chair but then I had to move.
✅I sat still for hours, but then I had to move.
💡The 'in my chair' is unnecessary since 'sit' already implies a seated position.