on the bench
Idioms-
Presiding as judge in a law court, as in Lawyers are very careful when Judge Brown is on the bench . This usage alludes to the seat occupied by a judge. [Late 1200s]
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Waiting for a chance to participate; also, removed from participation. For example, Mary complained that all her colleagues were going to the sales conference while she was left on the bench . This usage comes from baseball and other sports, where players not deemed ready or competent to play sit on a bench watching the game. [Early 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.
Redick said he was “still open to both” when asked if he could start Grimes and stagger his time with the starters on the bench.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
In January, he transferred to Oregon—where he’d plan to spend the season sitting on the bench behind Moore, a presumptive top-five pick in the NFL draft.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026
Ex-United and England goalkeeper Mary Earps started on the bench alongside fellow new arrival Nicole Anyomi but Spain's Mapi Leon and forward Rosa Kafaji started.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
Alvarez started on the bench on Sunday but was jeered while warming up and there were even louder boos when he came on in the 66th minute.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
Our eyes catch, and I remember one time, when he and his ex-girlfriend Cassie were sitting together on the bench near Cassie’s and my lockers while I was packing up my stuff.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
