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

In 2022, James Bullard, then the president of the St. Louis Fed, spoke at an off-the-record, invitation-only Citigroup forum for clients on the sidelines of meetings of the International Monetary Fund.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

Such spells on the sidelines have kept the eyes of the world at arm's length, but on his major finals debut he was in full focus.

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026

Factoring in Scott McTominay's stomach bug this week, could Clarke leave one of his leading men on the sidelines for the biggest game the nation has seen in almost three decades?

From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026

Grandmaster Miguel Najdorf, seated on the sidelines, likened the next game, the sixth, to a Mozart symphony.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady