拱手旁觀

拱手旁观
gǒngshǒupángguān
to watch from the sidelines and do nothing (idiom)

CEDICT

Entry Composition

1 拱手 gǒngshǒu
  1. to cup one's hands in obeisance or greeting
  2. (fig.) submissive
2 旁觀 pángguān
  1. spectator
  2. non-participant