on the back burner

idiom

chiefly US
: in the position of something that will not receive immediate attention and action
She put her singing career on the back burner to pursue her dream of being a movie star.

Examples of on the back burner in a Sentence

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Jack’s nonsensical romantic life only exists by narrative insistence, always on the back burner yet still always cold. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2025 Cortisol increases blood sugar, enhances the brain’s focus and memory, and puts things such as digestion, fertility and immunity on the back burner — because in a crisis, your body is focused on survival. Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025 But don’t put your taxes on the back burner, says deHaan. Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2025 Conrad doesn't love the idea and wants to put it on the back burner. Matt Cabral, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for on the back burner

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Cite this Entry

“On the back burner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20back%20burner. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

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