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
As lawmakers prepared to leave for recess Thursday, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) said the bill had been placed on the back burner as GOP leadership in both chambers worked to adopt a budget resolution to advance the president’s sweeping tax priorities.
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Aris Folley, The Hill, 12 Apr. 2025
In between play dates, meetings, doctor appointments, and music lessons, booking flights and hotel room reservations is often placed on the back burner.
—Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2025
My mother loved learning about world religions, but due to family obligations had to put her dream of traveling the world on the back burner.
—Jonathan Horwitz, Orange County Register, 21 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for on the back burner
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Aris Folley, The Hill, 12 Apr. 2025
In between play dates, meetings, doctor appointments, and music lessons, booking flights and hotel room reservations is often placed on the back burner.
—Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2025
My mother loved learning about world religions, but due to family obligations had to put her dream of traveling the world on the back burner.
—Jonathan Horwitz, Orange County Register, 21 Mar. 2025
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
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 21 May. 2025.
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