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
Recent Examples on the Web
There have been hopes ever since that movie tariffs would be on the back burner.
—
Dominic Patten, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025
But there were long years during which my book simmered on the back burner or even cooled on a pantry shelf.
—Megan Marshall
september 25, Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
Private life may be on the back burner when Mercury confronts Saturn.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
The expansion to a major development in Norwood is now on the back burner after Norwood City Council voted against PLK Communities’ expansion.
—Fox19 Staff, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on the back burner
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Dominic Patten, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025
But there were long years during which my book simmered on the back burner or even cooled on a pantry shelf.
—Megan Marshall
september 25, Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
Private life may be on the back burner when Mercury confronts Saturn.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
The expansion to a major development in Norwood is now on the back burner after Norwood City Council voted against PLK Communities’ expansion.
—Fox19 Staff, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on the back burner
Cite this Entry
“On the back burner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20back%20burner. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.
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