sit idly by

sit idly by (third-person singular simple present sits idly by, present participle sitting idly by, simple past and past participle sat idly by)

1. To remain close or stand aside while refraining from acting or intervening.

• sit by

• Arabic: وَقَفَ مَكْتُوفَ اليَدَيْن (waqafa maktūfa l-yadayn).