on the shelf
US /ɑn ðə ʃɛlf/
UK /ɑn ðə ʃɛlf/
1.
被冷落, 嫁不出去
no longer considered attractive or useful, especially for marriage (often used for women)
:
•
She worried about being left on the shelf as she got older.
她擔心隨著年齡增長會被人冷落。
•
Many women feel pressure not to be left on the shelf.
許多女性感到不被冷落的壓力。
2.
擱置, 束之高閣
not being used or considered for a long time
:
•
The old project has been sitting on the shelf for years.
那個舊項目已經擱置多年了。
•
His brilliant idea was put on the shelf due to lack of funding.
他絕妙的主意因資金不足而被擱置。