指ゆびをくわえる

expression, ichidan verb

look on enviously without doing anything; stand by and watch with envy

Idiomatic expression describing someone who wants something but can only watch helplessly or enviously, often with the pattern 〜て見る. The literal meaning is 'to hold a finger in one's mouth', evoking the image of a child watching others eat.

• 他ほかの人ひとが楽たのしそうに遊あそんでいるのを、指ゆびをくわえて見みているだけだった。

  I could only stand by and watch enviously as others were having fun.

• 彼かれは昇しょう進しんを指ゆびをくわえて見みているしかなかった。

  He had no choice but to look on enviously as others got promoted.