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Antonyms for on the shelf


Grammar : Adj
Spell : shelf
Phonetic Transcription : ʃɛlf



Definition of on the shelf

Origin :
  • late 14c., from Middle Low German schelf "shelf, set of shelves," or from Old English cognate scylfe, which perhaps meant "shelf, ledge, floor," and scylf "peak, pinnacle," from Proto-Germanic *skelf- "split," possibly from the notion of a split piece of wood (cf. Old Norse skjölf "bench"), from PIE root *(s)kel- (1) "to cut, cleave" (see scale (n.1)).
  • Shelf life first recorded 1927. Phrase on the shelf "out of the way, inactive" is attested from 1570s; of unmarried women with no prospects from 1839. Off the shelf "ready-made" is from 1936. Meaning "ledge of rock" is from 1809, perhaps from or influenced by shelf (n.2). Related: Shelves.
  • As in on the blink : adj not working continuously
  • As in unemployed : adj without a job
  • As in broken : adj not working
  • As in deferred : adj put off till a later time
  • As in dormant : adj inactive; sleeping

Synonyms for on the shelf

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019