ALL meanings of on the shelf
on the shelf
O o - noun plural on the shelf a thin slab of wood, metal, etc., fixed horizontally to a wall or in a frame, for supporting objects. 1
- noun plural on the shelf the contents of this: a shelf of books. 1
- noun plural on the shelf a surface or projection resembling this; ledge. 1
- noun plural on the shelf Physical Geography. a sandbank or submerged extent of rock in the sea or river. the bedrock underlying an alluvial deposit or the like. continental shelf. 1
- noun plural on the shelf Archery. the upper part of the bow hand, on which the arrow rests. 1
- idioms on the shelf off the shelf, readily available from merchandise in stock: Any of those parts can be purchased off the shelf. 1
- idioms on the shelf on the shelf, Informal. put aside temporarily; postponed. inactive; useless. without prospects of marriage, as after having broken an engagement. 1
- adverb on the shelf woman: no longer marriageable 1
- adverb on the shelf inactive, unemployed 1
- adverb on the shelf not being used 1
- phrase on the shelf If you say that someone or something is on the shelf, you mean that no one wants them. 0
- noun on the shelf put aside or abandoned: used esp of unmarried women considered to be past the age of marriage 0
- noun on the shelf out of use, activity, or circulation 0