on the bench

1. 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]

2. 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

Alexander-Arnold, who started on the bench, all the while was left in no doubt how the fans who once sang about 'the Scouser in our team' now regard him.

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"Eli Katoa was taken to hospital after suffering seizure activity on the bench during the second half of yesterday's Pacific Championships match between Tonga and New Zealand," his club Melbourne Storm said in a statement.

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Alexander Isak -- yet to score a Premier League goal -- and Jeremie Frimpong were missing with injuries while Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz were on the bench.

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But he has yet to make an appearance in the side and likely to start on the bench against Liverpool as 15-time European champions Real - managed by another former Reds player in Xabi Alonso - bid for a fourth successive win in this season's competition.

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I cannot see Borthwick consistently going with that much power on the bench, because when you are playing against better sides, you need that experience, power, skill, and finesse from the start of the game.

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Related Words

• idle 
• inactive 
• jobless 
• underemployed