back burner - Definition & Meaning

a state of low priority where something is set aside to be dealt with latera state of low priority where something is set aside to be dealt with later

The idiom "back burner" originates from cooking, where a stove has multiple burners used for different purposes. The front burners are typically used for food that requires immediate attention, while the back burners hold pots and pans that can simmer or be dealt with later. This concept was later applied metaphorically to tasks, projects, or issues that are postponed or given lower priority while more urgent matters come first. The phrase became commonly used in the mid-20th century to describe situations in which something is set aside temporarily but not entirely forgotten.The idiom "back burner" originates from cooking, where a stove has multiple burners used for different purposes. The front burners are typically used for food that requires immediate attention, while the back burners hold pots and pans that can simmer or be dealt with later. This concept was later applied metaphorically to tasks, projects, or issues that are postponed or given lower priority while more urgent matters come first. The phrase became commonly used in the mid-20th century to describe situations in which something is set aside temporarily but not entirely forgotten.

例句

Due to the budget constraints, we had to put the new office expansion project on the back burner.
由于预算限制，我们不得不将新办公室扩建项目搁置。
I had to put my dream of traveling around the world on the back burner while I focused on my career.
在我专注于事业的同时，我不得不将环游世界的梦想搁置一旁。
With the urgent deadlines for the upcoming conference, our marketing campaign has been moved to the back burner.
随着即将到来的会议的紧迫截止日期，我们的营销活动已被搁置到次要位置。