"twiddle your thumbs" in Chinese (Simplified)

• 无所事事（转动大拇指）

Definition

什么也不做，无聊地等待，常用两个大拇指相互转圈来打发时间。

Usage Notes (Chinese (Simplified))

这是一个非正式、带点幽默的表达，用来形容无聊、无事可做时等待。并不是真的要转动大拇指，通常用在“just twiddling my thumbs”这样的说法中。

Examples

I had to twiddle my thumbs while I waited for my friend to arrive.

我只能**无所事事（转动大拇指）**地等朋友来。

The students sat and twiddled their thumbs because the teacher was late.

老师迟到了，学生们只好**无所事事（转动大拇指）**地坐着。

If there's nothing to do, I just twiddle my thumbs.

如果没事可做，我就**无所事事（转动大拇指）**。

We were stuck in traffic, just twiddling our thumbs for an hour.

我们堵在路上，只能**无所事事（转动大拇指）**等了一个小时。

He doesn't like to twiddle his thumbs—he always finds something to do.

他不喜欢**无所事事（转动大拇指）**，总会找点事做。

Don’t just twiddle your thumbs—help me set the table!

别光**无所事事（转动大拇指）**，快来帮我摆桌子！