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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You might be tempted to put something on the back burner to focus on your summertime whimsy. Liz Simmons, StyleCaster, 24 June 2025 During the launch of the marijuana industry, commissioners set social consumption regulations on the back burner in favor of seeing retail sales go live more quickly. Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 19 June 2025 There may be projects on the back burner that have more juice in them. Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 18 June 2025 Any problems left on the back burner will be easily addressed and resolved. Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 10 June 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 4 Jul. 2025.

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