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]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

on the sidelines

It was understandable, therefore, why Zheng found a first-round defeat in Paris this year difficult to take - even if it was to eventual runner-up Maja Chwalinska after nine months on the sidelines.

From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026

Eight months later, almost all of them remain on the sidelines.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 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

We indulged in a test of strength for weeks as Dad stood figuratively on the sidelines, neither cheering nor booing but enjoying himself greatly.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou