Roget's Thesaurus

#681. Inaction

Nouns

inaction, passiveness, abstinence from action; noninterference, nonintervention; Fabian policy, conservative policy; neglect etc. 460. inactivity etc. 683; rest etc. (repose) 687; quiescence etc. 265; want of occupation, inoccupation; idle hours, time hanging on one's hands, dolce far niente [It.]; sinecure, featherbed, featherbedding, cushy job, no-show job; soft snap, soft thing.

Verbs

not do, not act, not attempt; be inactive etc. 683; abstain from doing, do nothing, hold, spare; not stir, not move, not lift a finger, not lift a foot, not lift a peg; fold one's arms, fold one's hands; leave alone, let alone; let be, let pass, let things take their course, let it have its way, let well alone, let well enough alone; quieta non movere [Lat.]; stare super antiquas vias [Lat.]; rest and be thankful, live and let live; lie rest upon one's oars; laisser aller [Fr.], faire [Fr.]; stand aloof; refrain etc. (avoid) 623, keep oneself from doing; remit one's efforts, relax one's efforts; desist etc. (relinquish) 624; stop etc. (cease) 142; pause etc. (be quiet) 265. wait, lie in wait, bide one's time, take time, tide it over. cool one's heels, kick one's heels; while away the time, while away tedious hours; pass the time, fill up the time, beguile the time; talk against time; let the grass grow under one's feet; waste time etc. (inactive) 683. lie by, lie on the shelf, lie in ordinary, lie idle, lie to, lie fallow; keep quiet, slug; have nothing to do, whistle for want of thought. undo, do away with; take down, take to pieces; destroy etc. 162.

Adjectives

not doing etc. v.; not done etc. v.; undone; passive; unoccupied, unemployed; out of employ, out of work; fallow; desaeuvre [Fr.].

Adverbs

re infecta [Lat.], at a stand, les bras croisis [Fr.], with folded arms; with the hands in the pockets, with the hands behind one's back; pour passer le temps [Fr.].

Interjections

so let it be!, stop!, etc. 142; hands off!

Phrases

cunctando restituit rem [Lat.], If it ain't broke don't fix it [Bert Lance]; stare decisis [Lat.], let the decision stand;