On the back burner

Meaning

Put into a lower priority state.

Usage

Used when deferring projects or ideas.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Cooks kept less urgent dishes on back burners to focus on hotter pans.

Food metaphors entered business talk during the 20th century.