'Idle' means not working, lazy, or without purpose; 'idol' is a person or thing that is greatly admired or worshipped.
Adjective/verb. Not working or active. Lazy. Without foundation (idle rumours). Also: to run an engine without load.
The machines sat idle for three days during the power outage.
Pay no attention to idle gossip — focus on what actually matters.
An idle mind is the devil's workshop — keep your team engaged.
Noun. An image used as an object of worship. A person who is greatly admired, especially a pop star or celebrity.
She was his idol growing up — he had her posters all over his room.
The pop idol sold out three consecutive nights at the stadium.
American Idol launched the careers of many successful musicians.
Common mistake
"My favourite idle is Taylor Swift" when meaning admired person (correct: idol). Or "The workers were idol during the strike" when meaning inactive (correct: idle).
Trick to remember it
'Idle' ends in LE like 'simple', 'little', 'feeble' — conveying smallness or inactivity. 'Idol' ends in OL like 'goal', 'soul', 'control' — things that hold power or aspiration.
Quick rule
Is it inactive, lazy, or without purpose? 'Idle'. Is it the greatly admired or worshipped person or image? 'Idol'.
Did you know?
'Idol' comes from Greek 'eidolon' (image, phantom, apparition) — the same root as 'ideal' and 'idealism'. Originally an idol was a physical image used in religious worship. Its modern meaning (admired celebrity) is a metaphorical extension: pop idols are objects of devotion much as religious idols were. 'Idle' comes from Old English 'idel' (empty, worthless) — a completely different etymology from a completely different language family.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The production line was _____ for a week while new parts were ordered.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
Freddie Mercury was an _____ to millions of music fans around the world.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Is it inactive, lazy, or without purpose? 'Idle'. Is it the greatly admired or worshipped person or image? 'Idol'.
"My favourite idle is Taylor Swift" when meaning admired person (correct: idol). Or "The workers were idol during the strike" when meaning inactive (correct: idle).
'Idle' ends in LE like 'simple', 'little', 'feeble' — conveying smallness or inactivity. 'Idol' ends in OL like 'goal', 'soul', 'control' — things that hold power or aspiration.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy