on the shelf
not noticed or not used:
It's important to apply research in a practical way and not leave it on the shelf.
mainly UK informal If someone, usually a woman, is on the shelf, she is not married and is considered too old for anyone to want to marry her:
In those days, if you hadn't married by the time you were 30, you were definitely on the shelf.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Neglecting and ignoring
- beneath the/sb's radar idiom
- block sth out
- brush sth off
- bury/have your head in the sand idiom
- bypass
- lay
- let sth ride idiom
- look straight/right through sb idiom
- lost
- lost in the shuffle idiom
- moulder
- push
- ride
- snub
- step
- step on sb
- sweep sth aside
- there's none so deaf as those who will not hear idiom
- tune
- wave
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Marriage: marital status