This is the 8978th most frequent German word.
leerlauf
"Leerlauf" means "idle" or "neutral state," often referring to a machine running without producing output or a period of inactivity.
In this context, 'Leerlauf' refers to the state of an engine running idle without engaging any gears.
Der Motor lief im Leerlauf.
The motor was idling.
Here, 'Leerlauf' metaphorically represents a period of inactivity or lack of productivity.
Während des Leerlaufs konzentrierte ich mich darauf, meine nächsten Schritte zu planen.
During the downtime, I focused on planning my next steps.
In this case, 'Leerlauf' indicates inactivity or suspension in a workflow or process.