Idiom meaning, usage examples, facts

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U W Y
ON THE BACK BURNER, PUT (SMTH.)
to decrease the amount of energy spent on some activity; to delay or postpone action on some activity
 ON THE BACK BURNER, PUT (SMTH.)
1. The boss isn’t sure he wants to pursue that new project right now. I think it’s on the back burner until the current project is finished.
2. Because of the country’s debt problems, the government has had to put its plans to expand the national medical program on the back burner.

Compare to: on hold; on ice. The expression on the back burner comes from cooking on a standard stove, which has four burners, two in front and two in back. The burners in front are used for immediate cooking, while the ones in back are often used for simmering or keeping things warm. To move something to the front burner means to make some project highest priority.


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