on the shelf

SEE SYNONYMS FOR on the shelf ON THESAURUS.COM

Inactive, not employed, as in With mandatory retirement at 65, many useful employees are put on the shelf. [Second half of 1500s]

In a state of disuse, as in We'll have to put her proposal on the shelf until we have more funds. [Late 1800s]

Without prospects of marriage. For example, After she broke her third engagement, her parents were sure she'd be on the shelf. This usage is always said of a woman and today considered offensive. It is probably obsolescent. [Early 1800s] All these usages allude to an article left on the shelf of a store, bookcase, or the like.

Words nearby on the shelf

on the ropes, on the run, on the safe side, on the same wavelength, on-the-scene, on the shelf, on the side, on the sidelines, on the side of the angels, on the skids, on the sly

单词	on the shelf
释义	on the shelf SEE SYNONYMS FOR on the shelf ON THESAURUS.COM 1 Inactive, not employed, as in With mandatory retirement at 65, many useful employees are put on the shelf. [Second half of 1500s] 2 In a state of disuse, as in We'll have to put her proposal on the shelf until we have more funds. [Late 1800s] 3 Without prospects of marriage. For example, After she broke her third engagement, her parents were sure she'd be on the shelf. This usage is always said of a woman and today considered offensive. It is probably obsolescent. [Early 1800s] All these usages allude to an article left on the shelf of a store, bookcase, or the like. Words nearby on the shelf on the ropes, on the run, on the safe side, on the same wavelength, on-the-scene, on the shelf, on the side, on the sidelines, on the side of the angels, on the skids, on the sly The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Words related to on the shelf idle, inactive, jobless, underemployed, wrecked, faulty, defective, ruined, busted, postponed, delayed, negotiated, latent, inert, inoperative, passive, asleep, comatose, sluggish, sidelined
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on the shelf

Words nearby on the shelf

Words related to on the shelf