The most important of issues is who made them stand idly by?

"But I can't stand idly by when the kids are in trouble."

It's impossible to stand idly in one place for very long.

They aren't going to stand idly by while all this goes on.

The Commission must not stand idly by in a situation of this kind.

Of course, Europe cannot stand idly by, just as it could not in the past.

We cannot stand idly by and watch while at least six million students drop out of European schools each year.

We cannot stand idly by and let this practice continue.

We cannot stand idly by in the face of such events.

We stood idly by for too long after the referendum.