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]

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

on the sidelines

"We're not at war with Canada," Bessent said on the sidelines of a G20 finance leaders' meeting.

From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026

Speaking to AFP on the sidelines of a G20 gathering in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Karp said the problem was that sovereignty decisions were being made by people without the expertise to judge them.

From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026

In fact, speaking on the sidelines of a regional summit in 2022 - less than a year into the conflict - Modi told Putin publicly that "now is not the time for war".

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

The meeting is set on the sidelines of a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a 10-nation, security-focused group that includes Iran, giving the isolated regime a measure of added international recognition.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026

The girls in my cabin played kickball and learned dance routines, but I always sat on the sidelines.

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan