Meaning of tomgang | Babel Free

Definitions

1. idling (of a motor); the act of keeping an engine running without actually moving
   common-gender, no-plural
2. being active without achieving anything
   common-gender, figuratively, no-plural

Examples

“Jeg er endt i en meditativ tilstand, hvor min hjerne går i tomgang og renses, og min krop ikke føles.”

I have ended up in a meditative state, where my brain runs emptily and is cleansed, and my body is not felt.

“Herefter går samtalen i tomgang, indtil han endelig tager fat om nælden.”

After this, the conversation idles, until he finally grabs the nettle.

CEFR level