resting

Everyday

1. lying down, sleeping or relaxing to get back strength. tree →
2. (euphemism, humorous, UK) of an actor: out of work, with no part in a play or film. tree →
3. lying or leaning on something ("resting on the table"). tree →
4. (euphemism) dead and buried ("resting in peace"). tree →

In the lessons

Everyday for rest; in the theatre world "resting" is a jokey, face-saving way for actors to say they have no job. On graves "resting" stands for dead.

Examples

• The baby is resting after her feed. tree →
• Please be quiet, Grandpa is resting. tree →
• "Are you in anything at the moment?" "No, I'm resting," said the actor. tree →
• My uncle has been resting for a year; he works in a café now. tree →
• The bike was resting against the wall. tree →
• Here lies Mary, resting in peace. tree →
• Your heart rate when resting is lower than after running. tree →
• After resting a few minutes longer, they set out again. tree →

Note

Know the context: an actor "resting" is unemployed, not tired. "Resting heart rate" in science means the rate when sitting still. In maths, resting time may be subtracted from total travel time.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah, a "resting-place" is a place to settle down and be at peace.

Interpretation. The ark going ahead to seek a resting-place is read as God guiding Israel to a home.

Examples

• For he saw a resting-place that it was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant under task-work (Torah GEN.49.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• And they set forward from the mount of the LORD three days' journey; and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them three days' journey, to seek out a resting-place for them. (Torah NUM.10.33, JPS 1917) tree →
• It derives from the root נפ״שׁ NPSh, having to do with breathing, refreshing, and resting; its etymological relationships with curiously similar roots like נשׁ״ם NShM ‘to breathe, pant’, נשׁ״ף NShP ‘to blow’, and נשׁ״ב NShB ‘to blow’ are unclear. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) tree →
• And where is the place that may be My resting-place? (Prophets ISA.66.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• Arise, O LORD, unto Thy resting-place; Thou, and the ark of Thy strength. (Writings PSA.132.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no resting-place. (Writings JOB.16.18, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Know the context: an actor "resting" is unemployed, not tired. "Resting heart rate" in science means the rate when sitting still. In maths, resting time may be subtracted from total travel time.