Sit/stand silently by

usgb
phrase

To be present but take no action, usually when something wrong or debatable is happening.

He just stood silently by as his friends were being bullied
Visual representation of "sit/stand silently by" - To be present but take no action, usually when something wrong or debatable is happening

Often appears as...

  • stand silently by and watch
  • stand silently by while
Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "sit/stand silently by"
LampPro Tip 1/3

Passive Presence

Use when highlighting someone’s choice to not intervene, especially in challenging situations.

Illustration for Passive Presence
With the chaos unfolding, the guards stood silently by.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Moral Implications

Implies a judgment on the person who is not taking action when it's expected of them.

Illustration for Moral Implications
He could have helped, but he chose to stand silently by.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Negative Emotion

Often used to convey disapproval or disappointment in someone's inaction.

Illustration for Negative Emotion
They stood silently by, ignoring the cries for help.
Visual representation of the word "Sit/stand silently by"

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