on the shelf

on the shelf
on the shelf
1. Fig. not active socially; left to oneself in social matters. (Alludes to being left or stored on a shelf.) •

I've been on the shelf long enough. I'm going to make some friends.

She likes being on the shelf.

2. Fig. postponed. •

We'll have to put this matter on the shelf for a while.

I have a plan on the shelf just waiting for an opportunity like this.

* * *
{adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal} Laid aside; not useful anymore. * /When a girl grows up, she puts childish habits on the shelf./ * /Mr. Myron's company put him on the shelf when he reached the age of 65./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • off the shelf — ˌoff the ˈshelf adjective COMMERCE an off the shelf product is made to a standard design and can be bought in the shops: • off the shelf database software • Standard off the shelf systems are displacing the custom products that were the company s …   Financial and business terms

  • off-the-shelf — adjective (especially of clothing) made in standard sizes and available from merchandise in stock a ready made jacket ready to wear clothes • Syn: ↑off the rack, ↑off the peg, ↑ready to wear • Similar to: ↑ready made …   Useful english dictionary

  • off the shelf — 1. Immediately available, in stock 2. (of a company) registered only in order to be sold • • • Main Entry: ↑shelf * * * off the shelf phrase available to buy without being ordered or designed for a particular customer The company could have a… …   Useful english dictionary

  • off-the-shelf — ˌoff the ˈshelf adjective COMMERCE an off the shelf product is made to a standard design and can be bought in the shops: • off the shelf database software • Standard off the shelf systems are displacing the custom products that were the company s …   Financial and business terms

  • on the shelf — {adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal} Laid aside; not useful anymore. * /When a girl grows up, she puts childish habits on the shelf./ * /Mr. Myron s company put him on the shelf when he reached the age of 65./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Off-the-shelf — may refer to: Off the shelf component Commercial off the shelf, a phrase in computing terminology Ready to wear Shelf corporation, a type of company Off the Shelf Festival, a festival of writing and reading which takes place each year in… …   Wikipedia

  • on the shelf — 1. mod. not active socially; left to oneself in social matters. □ I’ve been on the shelf long enough. I’m going to make some friends. □ She likes being on the shelf. 2. mod. postponed. (See also on the back burner.) □ We’ll have to put this… …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • Off the shelf — In finance or when buying things, off the shelf refers to products that have already been designed and made, compared to made to measure, (or one off, custom built, custom made, etc.), which refers to products that have to be made to a special… …   Wikipedia

  • off-the-shelf — adjective, adverb sold for general use, not made for a particular person or purpose: off the shelf computer software You can buy all these items off the shelf …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • off-the-shelf — mod. readily available; purchasable without any special difficulties or delays. □ This is just plain old off the shelf hand lotion. Isn’t it great? □ Is it off the shelf? □ I don’t use off the shelf software in my computer. I write my own …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

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