Crossword Genius

Not occupied in creating an image, we hear (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

idle

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'not occupied' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'image we hear' is the wordplay.
'image' becomes 'idyll' (I have seen 'rural image' mean 'idyll' so perhaps 'image' could also mean 'idyll').
'we hear' shows a homophone (sound like).
'idyll' is a homophone of 'IDLE'.

'in creating an' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for idle that I've seen before include "Loaf" , "Empty" , "Lazy - unemployed" , "Not busy" , "out of a job" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish News.
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