on the shelf
Idioms-
Inactive, not employed, as in With mandatory retirement at 65, many useful employees are put on the shelf . [Second half of 1500s]
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In a state of disuse, as in We'll have to put her proposal on the shelf until we have more funds . [Late 1800s]
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Without prospects of marriage. For example, After she broke her third engagement, her parents were sure she'd be on the shelf . This usage is always said of a woman and today considered offensive. It is probably obsolescent. [Early 1800s] All these usages allude to an article left on the shelf of a store, bookcase, or the like.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Duane the polar bear, I am a scientist, as you well know. I deal with what is. I cannot accept that magic is involved. Bring over that chunk of lapis lazuli that’s sitting on the shelf. I have something you can use for your next encounter with the voices.”
From Literature
Nim put the photo back on the shelf.
From Literature
If there’s any financial topic where you need to keep some sort of handy guide on the shelf to answer questions, Medicare is that topic.
From MarketWatch
Every book on the shelf looked just as old as his magical book, if not older.
From Literature
“Ninety-nine Raggedy Anns on the shelf; ninety-nine Raggedy Anns. If one of the dolls should happen to fall, ninety-eight Raggedy Anns on the shelf.”
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
