put in mothballs

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Idioms and Phrases

Defer indefinitely or for a very long time, as in We've put the plans for a new library in mothballs . This expression alludes to storing woolen clothing or other items with marble-size balls of naphthalene or camphor to prevent them from being damaged by moths. [1940s]

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April 20, 2024flabbergast

[flab-er-gast ]

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

put in mind of put in one's place

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