[Grammar] sitting idle vs. sitting idly

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virus99

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Good morning forum!

This is a quote from Cambridge D. Online:

It's crazy to have £7000 sitting idle in the bank.

I wonder why we do not say "sitting idly" in the bank, as idle describes the verb sitting. Or is it just an added adjective - must be when it's no adverb :-D.
Is the following sentence valid then:

It's crazy to have £7000 idle in the bank.

Adverbs and adjectives are one of my favourite topics ( :-? sigh).

Thanks in advance!
 

BobK

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'Idly' would conjure up a rather surreal image of the cash sitting around, twiddling its thumbs, and saying 'I hate Sundays'! ;-)

Compare

'I will not stand idly by while they do this to you'. ('Idly' is an adverb of manner.)

Your cash is just 'idle' (an adjective).

b
 

virus99

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Thanks Bob.

No worries, my own money has better manners (at least I hope so).

It's crazy to have £7000 idle in the bank.

Is that sentence valid? Thanks again.
 

emsr2d2

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Thanks Bob.

No worries, my own money has better manners (at least I hope so).

It's crazy to have £7000 idle in the bank.

Is that sentence valid? Thanks again.

I would be very happy to have £7000 in the bank, idle or otherwise! ;-)
 
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