- back burner
- noun Date: 1963 the condition of being out of active consideration or development — usually used in the phrase on the back burner • back-burner transitive verb
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
back burner
Look at other dictionaries:
back burner — n. [from the idea of putting a pot on a back burner of a stove to keep its contents warm] a state of temporary suspension, low priority, etc.: usually in the phrase on the back burner, in or into such a state … English World dictionary
back burner — back ,burner noun put something on the back burner INFORMAL to decide not to deal with something until later … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
back burner — If an issue is on the back burner, it is being given low priority … The small dictionary of idiomes
back-burner — back .burner back|bur|ner [ˈbækˌbə:nə US ˌbə:rnər] v [T] informal to delay doing something, because it does not need your attention immediately or because it is not as important as other things that you need to do immediately ▪ Allison back… … Dictionary of contemporary English
back burner — back′ burn′er n. cvb a condition of low priority or temporary deferment: issues put on the back burner until after the election[/ex] • Etymology: 1945–50 … From formal English to slang
back-burner — backˈ burner adjective (figurative) Not requiring immediate attention • • • Main Entry: ↑back … Useful english dictionary
back burner — noun reduced priority dozens of cases were put on the back burner • Ant: ↑front burner • Hypernyms: ↑precedence, ↑precedency, ↑priority * * * noun on the back burner … Useful english dictionary
back burner — also backburner N SING: usu the N If you put an issue on the back burner, you leave it in order to deal with it later because you now consider it to have become less urgent or important. Many speculated that the US would put the peace process on… … English dictionary
back burner — a condition of low priority or temporary deferment (usually used in the phrase on the back burner): Put other issues on the back burner until after the election. [1945 50; from the custom in cooking of placing pots not requiring immediate… … Universalium
back-burner — verb N. Amer. postpone action on. Origin from phr. on the back burner (see burner) … English new terms dictionary
