backburner

back burner

Where low-priority tasks figuratively reside. Typically used in the phrase "put (something) on the back burner." The phrase refers to the back burner of a stove, which is where pots are usually placed to simmer on low heat. I know you're eager to start on this new project, but I'm afraid it's going on the back burner—we just don't have the budget for it right now. You need to go to a doctor! You can't put your health on the back burner any longer! I'm going to be putting work stuff on a back burner for a while after my son is born.

See also: back, burner

on a back burner

Of a low priority; given less or little thought, attention, or action. A less common variant of "on the back burner." I think that painting the house should be on a back burner until we decide on what furniture we want to buy. I'm going to be putting work stuff on a back burner for a while after my son is born. The government can't let this issue remain on a back burner, or it could lead to disaster in the near future.

See also: back, burner, on

on the back burner

Of a low priority; given less or little thought or attention; postponed or suspended. I think that painting the house should be on the back burner until we decide on what furniture we want to buy. I'm going to be putting work stuff on the back burner for a while after my son is born.

See also: back, burner, on

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

*on the back burner

Fig. [of something] on hold or suspended temporarily. (Alludes to putting a pot that needs less active attention on a back burner of a stove, leaving space for pots that need to be stirred. Compare this with on the front burner. *Typically: be ~; put something ~.) The building project is on the back burner for now. This matter was on the back burner for a long time.

See also: back, burner, on

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

on the back burner

COMMON If you put a project or issue on the back burner, you decide not to do anything about it until a later date. Note: A burner is one of the rings or plates on the top of a cooker. She put her career on the back burner after marrying her co-star two years ago. People's dreams have once again been put on the back burner as they concern themselves with survival from one day to the next. Note: Back burner is used in other structures and expressions with a similar meaning. Long-term health care advocates worry that the expense will push this issue onto a back burner. In this climate, website development is an obvious candidate for the back burner.

See also: back, burner, on

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

on the back (or front) burner

having low (or high) priority. informal

The metaphor here is from cooking on a stove with several burners of varying heat: food cooking at a lower temperature on a back burner receives or requires less frequent attention than that cooking at a high temperature on a front burner. Compare with the mainly North American expression cook on the front burner meaning ‘be on the way to rapid success’.

See also: back, burner, on

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

on the back ˈburner

(informal) (of an idea, a plan, etc.) left for the present time, to be done or considered later: The job was put on the back burner when more important assignments arrived.

A burner is one of the parts of a cooker/stove that produces a flame.

See also: back, burner, on

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

on the back burner

mod. out of the way; aside and out of consideration. (see also on the shelf.) We will have to put this on the back burner for a while.

See also: back, burner, on

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

on the back burner

As a low priority: kept the project on the back burner all summer.

See also: back, burner, on

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.