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

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 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

Pope was speaking on the sidelines of the Berlin Climate Mobility Forum.

From Barron's • Jun. 18, 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

He stayed on the sidelines, walked along the chalked edges of the field.

From "Wringer" by Jerry Spinelli