sideliners
Those not playing
Sideliners are people who remain on the sidelines rather than actively participating.
The term applies to spectators at sporting events who watch from the boundary lines, but extends figuratively to anyone who observes or comments on activities without getting involved.
The sideliners criticized the plan but offered no alternatives.
In investing, sideliners are those holding cash and waiting for better opportunities rather than committing to the market.
Those who watch events
- watchersThose who look on
- onlookersPeople observing an event
- bystandersPeople present but uninvolved
- audienceGathered viewers collectively
fans · supporters · bench · bleachers · stands · crowd · viewers · attendees
Those who forgo indulgence
- fence-sittersPeople refusing to choose
- neutralsThose taking no side
- uninvolvedNot taking part
- passiveNot actively participating
detached · withdrawn · apathetic · indifferent · outsiders · non-committal · idle · aloof
Taken out of action
- injuredHaving sustained harm
- inactiveNot currently functioning
- reservesResources held back
- substitutesReplacements for originals
backups · non-starters · disabled · recovering · rehabilitating · resting · unavailable · scratched
observers
Those who watch events
- watchersThose who look on
- onlookersPeople observing an event
- bystandersPeople present but uninvolved
audience · fans · supporters · bench · bleachers · stands · crowd · viewers · attendees · witnesses
abstainers
Those who forgo indulgence
- fence-sittersPeople refusing to choose
- neutralsThose taking no side
- uninvolvedNot taking part
passive · detached · withdrawn · apathetic · indifferent · outsiders · non-committal · idle · aloof · removed
benched
Taken out of action
substitutes · backups · non-starters · disabled · recovering · rehabilitating · resting · unavailable · scratched · second-string
sidelinersparticipants
Those actively involved
players · doers · contributors · activists · movers and shakers
sidelinersgo-getters
Ambitiously proactive people
true believers · die-hards · devotees · partisans · champions
sidelinerskey players
frontliners · principals · protagonists · prime movers · insiders
- on the sidelinesNot in the action
- sideline reportersJournalists covering games courtside
- sideline reportBroadcast from game's edge
- sideline seatsSeating beside the action