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BACK BURNER

27 / 04 / 2009

BACK BURNER: meaning and examples

Good morning everyone. I hope you had a good weekend.

Today we answer another question from one of our readers.

Hi Matthew. Thank you for your lessons, I learn a lot every day. Well, I send you this email cause I would like you to explain this expression: put someone on the back burner. I read it in a Killers' track called "All these things that I've done."
Thank you so much. Best Regards. Laura Jiménez.


Today's expression is: on the back burner

Meaning: Reduced priority. Receiving less than full or regular attention; left for the moment, to be done or considered later.

The opposite would be front burner (=top priority). The expression is a metaphor from cooking. The things that we have to watch carefully should be on the front burner and vice-versa.

Normally, Laura, we leave projects on the back burner, not people. However, in this case the Killers are using the expression somewhat poetically.

Example 1:
Due to a shortage of judges, many legal cases get put on the back burner.

Example 2:
Due to the crisis, many companies have put expansion plans on the back burner. However, I think a crisis is a great time for expansion.

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I hope you have a nice day.