Example: No podemos quedarnos de brazos cruzados ante la injusticia.
Definition
"Quedarse de brazos cruzados" means to remain inactive or passive in a situation where action is needed, often implying a refusal or failure to intervene or help. For example, it describes not taking any steps to address injustice or problems.
The phrase "quedarse de brazos cruzados" literally translates to 'to stay with crossed arms,' symbolizing a posture of idleness or refusal to act. Its origins come from the natural human gesture of crossing arms when not engaging physically, which culturally came to represent passivity or inaction.
Learn to use this expression actively
"Quedarse de brazos cruzados" appears in the Vocaplus list "Spanish - General - Modismos y refranes - (C1) - parte 1", containing 120 commonly used expressions.
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to sit idly by