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

While he normally stays on the sidelines for a full year after a new listing to let the initial IPO volatility settle, Graham made an exception for SpaceX.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 23, 2026

I remember standing on the sidelines on countless weekend mornings watching my children play youth soccer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

From the England team that played at Lord's, Stokes, Atkinson and Robinson will definitely miss out at The Oval and could be joined on the sidelines by Bashir and Smith.

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026

For many drivers, the average new-vehicle price of around $50,000 is enough to keep them on the sidelines.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026

This football player isn’t even there yet, but on the sidelines his teammates are slapping his shoulders and crowding around him.

From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan