back-burner
Not urgent now
To back-burner something is to set it aside for later attention, reducing its priority: Let's back-burner that proposal until after the merger.
The image comes from cooking, where pots on back burners simmer while front burners get active attention.
The noun back burner appears in put on the back burner, meaning the same thing.
Suspend or store
- tableHorizontal furniture surface
- postponeDelay to later time
- delayEnforced waiting period
- suspendHalt or hang temporarily
sideline · park · mothball · adjourn · reschedule · prorogue · procrastinate · stall
Assign to inferior position
- downgradeReduce in status
- demoteLower someone's position
- de-emphasizeMinimize perceived significance
- sidelineSecondary business pursuit
marginalize · subordinate · minimize · neglect · overlook · disregard · low-priority · secondary
shelve
Suspend or store
suspend · sideline · park · mothball · adjourn · reschedule · prorogue · procrastinate · stall · ice
relegate
Assign to inferior position
- downgradeReduce in status
- demoteLower someone's position
- de-emphasizeMinimize perceived significance
sideline · marginalize · subordinate · minimize · neglect · overlook · disregard · low-priority · secondary · backlog
standby
Ready substitute awaiting use
abeyance · limbo · hiatus · interim · dormant · stagnate · linger · pending · suspended · paused
back-burnertop priority
Most important item
urgent · first priority · pressing · number one priority · paramount
back-burnerfront and center
Prominent central position
center stage · in the spotlight · forefront · in the limelight · focal point