袖zau6手sau2旁pong4觀gun1

English

1. to watch with folded arms (idiom); to look on without lifting a finger
2. to sit back and watch; to stand by indifferently; literally: to put the hands in one's sleeves and look on

粵語 — Cantonese

1. 淨係喺隔籬睇，唔出手，唔幫手，唔干涉

Examples

• 如果你見到我暈咗，你唔會袖手旁觀啩！

  If you see me faint, you won't sit back and watch, right?

• 你要是不答应的话，我就袖手旁观。

  If you don't make the promise, then I'll just stand by and watch.

  Tatoeba · GlossaMatik CC BY

• 只要好人袖手旁观，恶人就会得胜。

  As long as good people do nothing, evil will triumph.

  Tatoeba · GlossaMatik CC BY