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

Speaking on the sidelines of the summit, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape told journalists Wednesday it was an issue of "morality".

From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026

With the U.S. on the sidelines, Saudi Arabia has turned to other nations, including Turkey and Pakistan, with which it recently signed a tripartite, NATO-style mutual defense agreement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026

With rates now at their highest point since 2023, buyers are likely to stay planted on the sidelines, while sellers may take their homes off the market.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

His comments on the sidelines of G20 talks come as Russian and Ukrainian strikes targeting Black Sea ports have been wrecking and idling agricultural export capacity more quickly than trade flows can recover.

From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026

Grandmaster Miguel Najdorf, seated on the sidelines, likened the next game, the sixth, to a Mozart symphony.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady