[Grammar] sitting idle vs. sitting idly

[virus99]

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]

'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]

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]

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! ;-)