sit on

British  

verb

1. to be a member of (a committee, etc)

2. informal to suppress

3. informal to check or rebuke

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sit on Idioms  

1. Also, sit upon.

2. Confer about or deliberate over, as in Another attorney was called to sit on the case . [Mid-1400s]

3. Suppress or repress, as in I know they were sitting on some evidence . [Early 1900s]

4. Postpone action or resolution regarding, as in I don't know why the city council is sitting on their decision . [Early 1900s]

5. Rebuke sharply, reprimand, as in If he interrupts one more time I'm going to sit on him . [ Slang ; second half of 1800s]

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Example Sentences

A private sale bails out Mr. Ergen but is still preferable to letting Mr. Ergen sit on unused spectrum.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

A lot of the time, I would rather just sit on the couch and watch “Star Trek.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

Few if any producers have committed to boost output yet, but if prices rise enough, it’s hard to imagine they sit on the sidelines for long.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

Meanwhile Team GB's four-time Olympic medalist Elinor Barker almost quit cycling because she was in too much pain to even sit on a bike.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

I sit on my cot and tape the drawing back together as best I can.

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko

Related Words

• abolish
• censor
• conceal
• contain
• crack down on
• crush
• curb
• cut off
• muzzle
• overcome
• overthrow
• put an end to
• put down
• quash
• quell
• quench
• repress
• silence
• snuff out