shelf (redirected from shelf-like)

off the shelf

Fig. ready made for purchase; not custom-made. (Hyphenated when prenominal.) I generally buy off-the-shelf clothing. I am a perfect size eight.

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.

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a shelf life

the length of time that something will last or remain useful

Usage notes: The shelf life of a product is the amount of time that it can be offered for sale before it must be thrown away.

These days many marriages have a fairly short shelf life.

See also: life

on the shelf  (British & Australian old-fashioned)

if someone, especially a woman, is on the shelf, they are not married and people now believe they are too old to get married I was afraid my daughter would never find a husband, that she'd be left on the shelf.

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off the shelf

in a form that is ready to be used Most of the technology needed can be bought off the shelf.

Usage notes: usually used to show that something is not specially made for a particular use

put somebody on the shelf

to cause someone not to be available A sore left knee put him on the shelf for two weeks, and he has missed six games.

See also: put

put something on the shelf

to delay something The library's plan to show three films next week has been put on the shelf.

See also: put