noninterference, nonintervention; Fabian policy, conservative policy;
neglect &c 460.
inactivity &c 683; rest &c (repose) 687; quiescence &c 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.
V. not do, not act, not attempt; be inactive &c 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 &c (avoid) 623, keep oneself from doing;
remit one's efforts, relax one's efforts; desist &c (relinquish) 624;
stop &c (cease) 142; pause &c (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 &c
(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 &c 162.
Adj. not doing &c v.; not done &c v.; undone; passive; unoccupied,
unemployed; out of employ, out of work; fallow; desaeuvre [Fr.].
Adv. 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.].
Int. so let it be!, stop!, &c 142; hands off!,
Phr. cunctando restituit rem [Lat.], If it ain't broke don't fix it
[Bert Lance]; stare decisis [Lat.], let the decision stand;