in reserve
IdiomsExample Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“It’s conserve and then open up the valves again. Learn how to hold yourself in reserve a little bit and play around with energy—rather than just smash into it.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
As of November, a total of 58 B-52Hs are in the military’s active force, with another 18 in reserve, according to the U.S.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
Australia holds roughly 37 days' worth of petrol in reserve, according to government figures, far below the 90-day minimum dictated by the International Energy Agency.
From Barron's ● Apr. 1, 2026
While major chip makers have some helium supply in reserve, there’s some uncertainty about what would transpire if the conflict were to drag on and disrupt helium production over a longer span.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 13, 2026
“Well, something in reserve, in case you didn’t like what your grandmother has chosen.”
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.