on the back burner

Meaning

This idiom means to temporarily deprioritize a project, task, or idea, giving it less attention while you focus on more urgent matters. It comes from cooking, where pots on the back burners of a stove are kept warm but not actively cooked.

Examples

• We had to put the website redesign on the back burner until we hire a new developer.

  We had to put the website redesign on the back burner until we hire a new developer.

• Let's keep that marketing idea on the back burner for now and focus on sales.

  Let's keep that marketing idea on the back burner for now and focus on sales.

• Because of the budget cuts, the expansion plans have been put on the back burner.

  Because of the budget cuts, the expansion plans have been put on the back burner.

• I have so many urgent emails today that my regular reports are on the back burner.

  I have so many urgent emails today that my regular reports are on the back burner.

• The boss decided to leave the new policy proposal on the back burner until next quarter.

  The boss decided to leave the new policy proposal on the back burner until next quarter.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We put the project on the behind burner.

  ✓ We put the project on the back burner.

  The correct word is 'back,' referring to the rear burners of a stove.

• ✗ This task is on a back burner.

  ✓ This task is on the back burner.

  The idiom always uses the definite article 'the.'

Related Expressions

Practice

• We need to put the office expansion ___ until our financial situation improves.

  💡 temporarily deprioritized or postponed

  Show answer

  on the back burner

• With the product launch next week, all other tasks are being placed ___.

  💡 given lower priority for now

  Show answer

  on the back burner