How do you use "On the back burner" in a sentence?

We had to put the expansion plans on the back burner until the economy improves. Learning guitar has been on the back burner since I started my new job. Don't worry — it's not canceled, just on the back burner for now.

On the back burner

Q: What does "On the back burner" mean?

Given low priority; postponed to deal with later. Used when something is being temporarily set aside in favor of more urgent matters. Unlike being canceled, something on the back burner is still being kept warm — it hasn't been forgotten, just deprioritized. Very common in workplace and personal planning.

American Slang Term American ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

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Significado: Given low priority; postponed to deal with later.

被放在低优先级；暂时搁置以后再处理。

Con baja prioridad; aplazado para más adelante. En un segundo plano.

優先度を下げること。後回しにすること。

우선순위를 낮추다. 뒤로 미루다.

Used when something is being temporarily set aside in favor of more urgent matters. Unlike being canceled, something on the back burner is still being kept warm — it hasn't been forgotten, just deprioritized. Very common in workplace and personal planning.

用在某件事暂时被放下、优先处理更紧迫的事务时。和被取消不同，放在'后灶'上的东西仍然在保温——没有被遗忘，只是降低了优先级。在工作和个人规划中非常常用。

Se usa cuando algo se aparta temporalmente a favor de asuntos más urgentes. A diferencia de cancelar algo, lo que está 'on the back burner' se mantiene a fuego lento: no se ha olvidado, solo se le ha bajado la prioridad. Muy habitual en el trabajo y la planificación personal.

もっと緊急な案件を優先するために、一時的に棚上げにしているときに使う。中止とは違い、back burnerに置かれたものはまだ温められている——忘れられたのではなく、優先順位が下がっただけ。職場や個人の計画でよく使われる表現。

더 긴급한 일을 위해 무언가를 일시적으로 제쳐 놓을 때 사용한다. 취소된 것과 달리, back burner에 있는 것은 여전히 따뜻하게 유지되고 있다 — 잊어버린 것이 아니라 우선순위가 낮아진 것이다. 직장 및 개인적인 계획에서 매우 흔하게 쓰인다.

Ejemplos

We had to put the expansion plans on the back burner until the economy improves.
我们不得不把扩张计划搁置，等经济好转再说。
Tuvimos que dejar los planes de expansión en un segundo plano hasta que la economía mejore.
景気が良くなるまで、拡大計画は後回しにせざるを得なかった。
경기가 회복될 때까지 확장 계획은 뒤로 미룰 수밖에 없었다.
Learning guitar has been on the back burner since I started my new job.
自从开始新工作以来，学吉他就一直被搁置了。
Aprender a tocar la guitarra ha quedado en segundo plano desde que empecé mi nuevo trabajo.
新しい仕事を始めてから、ギターの練習はずっと後回しになっている。
새 직장을 시작한 이후로 기타 연습은 계속 뒤로 밀리고 있다.
Don't worry — it's not canceled, just on the back burner for now.
别担心——不是取消了，只是暂时搁一搁。
No te preocupes: no está cancelado, solo está aparcado de momento.
心配しないで——中止じゃなくて、今はちょっと後回しにしてるだけだから。
걱정 마 — 취소된 게 아니라, 지금은 잠시 뒤로 미뤄둔 것뿐이야.

Pronunciación

Guía de uso

Contexto: prioritization, workplace, planning

Tono: practical, reassuring

✓ Correcto

Let's put that on the back burner.
先把那件事放一放吧。
Dejemos eso en un segundo plano.
それは後回しにしよう。（Let's put that on the back burner.）
그건 일단 뒤로 미루자.
It's on the back burner for now.
那件事暂时搁置了。
Está en un segundo plano de momento.
今はちょっと後回しにしてる。（It's on the back burner for now.）
지금은 뒤로 미뤄둔 상태야.

✗ Incorrecto

If something is truly canceled, say so — don't use 'back burner' as a euphemism for 'never'
如果某件事真的已经取消了，就直说——不要用'暂时搁置'来委婉地表示'永远不会做了'
Si algo está realmente cancelado, dilo claramente: no uses 'en segundo plano' como eufemismo de 'nunca'
本当に中止になっているなら正直にそう言おう——「back burner」を「永遠にやらない」の婉曲表現として使わないこと
진짜로 취소된 거라면 솔직히 말해라 — '뒤로 미뤄둔다'를 '영원히 안 한다'는 뜻의 완곡어법으로 쓰지 마라

Origen e historia

From cooking, where the back burners of a stove are used for dishes that need to simmer slowly and don't need immediate attention. Front burners are for the main dishes. The metaphor became common in American English by the mid-20th century.

Contexto cultural

Era: 1960s-present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

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