in the pipeline
Idioms-
In process, under way, as in The blueprints for the new machine are in the pipeline, but it will take months to get approval . [ Colloquial ; 1940s] Also see in the works .
-
Budgeted for something but not yet spent, as in There's $5 million more in the pipeline for the city schools . [ Colloquial ; second half of 1900s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There are a couple in the pipeline, he added.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
But given his previous warnings on the potential inflationary pressures in the pipeline, it was a bit surprising that Kashkari didn’t forecast more hikes.
From Barron's ● Jun. 26, 2026
Data center electricity projections come with uncertainty, and PG&E says its confirmed large load in the pipeline — mostly data centers — is closer to 5.3 GW.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026
Bank governor Andrew Bailey said recent drops in oil prices were "encouraging" but high energy prices during the war had still left "inflationary pressure in the pipeline".
From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026
Poor pressure in the pipeline means that the water will have to go to a sump and then be pumped up.
From Behind the News: Voices from Goa's Press by Various
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.
