on the sidelines

Idioms  

1. Observing rather than taking part, out of the action, as in Bolivia's neighbors remained on the sidelines, waiting to see which faction in the dispute would prevail. This idiom comes from sports. The sidelines are the two lines defining the sides of the court or playing field and the area immediately beyond them where, in such sports as football, the non-playing team members sit. [First half of 1900s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

on the sidelines

While activity in much of the U.S. housing market has been slowed by record-high home prices and persistently elevated mortgage rates, not all buyers are sitting on the sidelines.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026

PARIS—Zinédine Zidane, one of the most decorated coaches in European soccer and greatest players of his generation, had sat on the sidelines for five years, waiting for precisely this job.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

It is not clear how long the 30-year-old will spend on the sidelines, but one thing new boss Enzo Maresca was clear on in his first news conference was that he wants to keep him.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

So far, Hollywood's traditional powerhouses -- Paramount, Universal, Sony, Walt Disney and Warner Bros -- have officially stayed on the sidelines of the AI shift.

From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026

Even Coach Quatrini went berserk—jumping up and down on the sidelines just like one of the little Hupfers.

From "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt