on the bench
Waiting to substitute
On the bench means not actively participating.
In sports, players on the bench are substitutes waiting to enter the game: He spent the whole season on the bench.
For judges, being on the bench means presiding in court—the bench being the judge's seat.
Someone can also be on the bench romantically, kept as a backup option while someone dates others.
- waitingRemaining in expectation
- waiting in the wingsReady to act soon
- substituteReplacement for another
- judgeOne who decides
- benchwarmerSeldom-used team member
riding the pine · courtroom · court of appeals · appellate · sideline · reserve · second string · backup quarterback · magistrate · federal judge · readiness · gavel · preside · dormant · verdict · lineup · inactive · rotation
- Sitting Outsidelined, on the sidelines, sitting idle, out of action, spectating
on the benchin the game
Actively participating
starting · playing · on the ice · in action · first string
on the benchin the field
on the job · active duty · in the game · in play · deployed