At the peak over a fifth of European workers remained technically employed even as they twiddled their thumbs.

在巅峰时期，超过五分之一的欧洲工人在无事可做的时候仍然保有雇佣工作。

Workers hired to meet roaring demand have been left twiddling their thumbs.

为满足猛增的需求而被雇佣的员工们，现在闲得抠手。

I don't think people are going to be sort of sat there twiddling their thumbs.

我不认为人们会坐在那里摆弄他们的拇指。

" Every artist in the world has spent 18 months twiddling their thumbs, so they are making records, " says Ed Macdonald, the manager of 100% Records, which represents artists such as We Are Scientists, an indie rock band.

“世界上所有艺术家都有了18个月无所事事的时间，所以他们都在制作唱片，”100%唱片公司的经理艾德·麦克唐纳说。该公司代理着一些艺术家，比如独立摇滚乐队We are Scientists。