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Back Burner for Dummies

noun


What does Back Burner really mean?

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Hey there! I can totally help you understand the meaning of the phrase "Back Burner." Let's dive into it, shall we?

Imagine you're cooking up a delicious meal on the stove. You have different burners, right? Well, when you place something on the back burner, you're putting it on the flame that's farthest away from you.

So, when we use the term "back burner," we're not actually talking about cooking, but rather using it as a metaphor to describe how we prioritize or focus on things in our lives. It means that something is not given immediate attention or consideration, kind of like when you leave a pot on the back burner and focus on the pots in the front.

Let me give you an example. Imagine you have a lot of homework to do, but suddenly your best friend calls you and asks if you want to play your favorite game. You might think about it for a moment and say, "Sorry, I really want to play, but my homework is on the back burner right now. I'll finish it later."

In this example, the homework is not the main priority at that moment. It's not given immediate attention and is left on the "back burner" while you focus on doing something else.

Now, there's another way we can understand "back burner." It can also mean putting something on hold or postponing it for later. It's like when you have a bunch of tasks and you decide to tackle the important ones first, while the less urgent ones sit on the proverbial back burner.

So, to sum it up, "back burner" means prioritizing something less important or delaying it while focusing on other more pressing matters. It's like putting something on a figurative flame farthest away from immediate attention.

Got it? Think of it like cooking multiple dishes and deciding which one needs your attention the most while the others simmer away on the back burner.

I hope this explanation helps and makes the meaning of "back burner" crystal clear. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. Learning new words can be challenging, but remember, we're in this together!


Revised and Fact checked by Brian Anderson on 2023-10-27 23:11:15

Back Burner In a sentece

Learn how to use Back Burner inside a sentece

  • When you have a lot of homework to do, but your friend comes over to play, you can put your homework on the back burner and spend time with your friend.
  • If you have a test next week, but your teacher cancels it and gives you extra time to study, you can put your studying on the back burner and relax for a while.
  • When you have many chores to do but you want to watch your favorite TV show, you can put the chores on the back burner and watch the show first.
  • If you have a project for school that is not due until next month, but you have an important test tomorrow, you can put the project on the back burner and focus on studying for the test.
  • When you want to go on a trip with your family, but your parent says they need to work this weekend, you can put the trip on the back burner and plan it for another time.

Back Burner Antonyms

Words that have the opposite context of the original word.

Back Burner Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.