Question of the Day #1273

‘Killing Eve’ Review: A Trip to Russia Leaves Sandra Oh Twiddling Her Thumbs in a Frustrating Episode

From the headline of this article at Indie Wire.

  上記の文で、twiddle one's thumbsの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "twiddle one's thumbs" mean?

  答えは、コメントに書いてください。
Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

 

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

1. 両手の指を組んで親指同士をクルクル回す
2. 〔暇なので〕のんびりしている

1番の訳のように、本当の行為を示すこともありますが、実際は比喩的に使用することがほとんどです。
また、ただ「のんびりしている」だけではなく、問題の見出しのように何か理由があって「のんびりせざるを得ない」ことを意味することもあります。

 

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

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.

 

Examples

1. I'm just twiddling my thumbs here in the ER, waiting for someone to give me an update on Claire's condition.
2. 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!
3. There I sat for three hours, twiddling my thumbs, while he made call after call.
4. With her grandson still twiddling his thumbs on the bench, Dolores has now become the main attraction. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 15 May 2025
5. Rather than twiddling thumbs and waiting for veterans like Pederson, García and Semien to get going, the Rangers made a decisive move to bring in someone new. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 14 May 2025

   

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