back burner

noun

1. a condition of low priority or temporary deferment (usually used in the phrase on the back burner ):

   Put other issues on the back burner until after the election.

back burner

noun

1. on the back burner
   on the back burner put aside for the time being, as a subject that is not of immediate concern but that may be activated later; postponed

Word History and Origins

Origin of back burner¹

First recorded in 1945–50; from the custom in cooking of placing pots not requiring immediate attention toward the rear of the stove

Example Sentences

As GDP growth becomes a top priority, pollution control is on a back burner.

From Time

I’ve kind of been putting it on the back burner or putting my thoughts on anything like that on the back burner just to kind of stay in the moment and relishing the moment because more importantly I don’t want this moment to pass me by.

From Washington Post

Now that the hell of 2020 is officially wrapped, I’m taking a dive into some of the localized climate problems we left boiling on the back burner.

From Voice of San Diego

Nice-to-know details were pushed to the back burner in a rush to make sure the new vaccines would be safe and effective.

From FiveThirtyEight

I vacuum-sealed the cheese in half-pound batches and froze the rolls and put the cheesesteak craving on a back burner.

From Washington Post

Denzel Washington in Philadelphia: “There was something like that [with Philadelphia] where I was on the back-burner.”

From The Daily Beast

And while his Town & Country photo shoot nearly broke the Internet, modeling is on the back burner: “Acting is my first priority.”

From The Daily Beast