[Idiom] PUT ON THE BACK BURNER. - How to Prioritize: Learning to Delay Wisely

Delay dealing with something.

When you "put something on the back burner," you decide that it's not a priority and delay dealing with it until later. This idiom uses the imagery of a stove, where pots on the back burner are not receiving direct heat and are therefore cooking more slowly.

Example Sentences

1. We'll have to put that project on the back burner until we get more funding.

   We'll delay that project until we get more funding.

2. I've had to put my vacation plans on the back burner because of work commitments.

   I've postponed my vacation plans due to work commitments.

3. She put volunteering on the back burner to focus on her studies.

   She postponed volunteering to focus on her studies.