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Idle vs Petty - What's the difference?

idle | petty | Related terms |

Idle is a related term of petty.


As an adjective idle

is (lb) empty, vacant.

As a verb idle

is to spend in idleness; to waste; to consume.

As a proper noun petty is

.

idle

English

(wikipedia idle)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (lb) Empty, vacant.
  • Not turned to appropriate use; not occupied.
  • :
  • Not engaged in any occupation or employment; unemployed; inactive; doing nothing.
  • :
  • *
  • *:Molly the dairymaid came a little way from the rickyard, and said she would pluck the pigeon that very night after work. She was always ready to do anything for us boys; and we could never quite make out why they scolded her so for an idle hussy indoors. It seemed so unjust. Looking back, I recollect she had very beautiful brown eyes.
  • Averse to work, labor or employment; lazy; slothful.
  • :
  • *
  • *:“I don't mean all of your friends—only a small proportion—which, however, connects your circle with that deadly, idle , brainless bunch—the insolent chatterers at the opera, the gorged dowagers, the worn-out, passionless men, the enervated matrons of the summer capital,!”
  • Of no importance; useless; worthless; vain; trifling; thoughtless; silly.
  • :
  • (lb) Light-headed; foolish.
  • :(Ford)

    • Derived terms

    * idle hands are the devil's workshop * idle pulley * idle wheel

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Verb

    (idl)
  • To spend in idleness; to waste; to consume.
  • To lose or spend time doing nothing, or without being employed in business.
    • to idle in an IRC channel
  • * 1939 , Joan Evans, Chateaubriand (page 32)
    • He had already heard of the young man's projected journey — evidently the Comte de Combourg had written many letters while his son idled at St. Malo
  • Of an engine: to run at a slow speed, or out of gear; to tick over.

    • Related terms

    * idler

    References

    * *

    Anagrams

    * * *

    petty

    English

    (wikipedia petty)

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Little, small, secondary in rank or importance.
    • Like a petty god I walked about, admired of all.'' (Milton, ''Samson Agonistes , 1671)
    petty officer'', ''petty cash
  • Insignificant, trifling, or inconsiderable.
    • a petty fault
  • Narrow-minded, small-minded.

    • Derived terms

    * petty cash * petty officer * petty king * pettiness * petty crime

    Synonyms

    * See also

    See also

    * quibble

    External links

    * *