put on the sidelines

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'put on the sidelines' is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to describe a situation in which someone or something is excluded from an activity or process. For example, "The team manager decided to put the injured player on the sidelines and give the younger players more playing time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"It was big and bulky and it was dangerous to put on the sidelines.

The New York Times - Tech

Rather, he said, they have been put on the sidelines while the various investigations run their course.

The New York Times

Morris and Karl Rove — who infamously refused to accept Obama's victory on-air on Election Night — were put on the sidelines at Fox News shortly about a month after the election, though Rove has since returned to the airwaves.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

She stood on the sideline during the jailyard soccer game put on by Guatemala's Ministry of Culture and Sports.

The New York Times

The United States' decision to put China on the sidelines of the postwar world order it dominated has meant that China and Japan never signed a proper peace treaty.

The New York Times

Here are some suggestions to help make you and the band a spirit unit: Teach them some cheers.... Put them on the sidelines with you.... Invite a few down to do one of your cheers with you, maybe in the later part of the game.

The New York Times

"I think when he was given reinventing government it put him on the sidelines".

The New Yorker

Only a few games after returning from an Achilles injury, Bryant suffered a fractured left knee which will once again put him on the sidelines.

The Guardian - Sport

It showed up again in Rick Blaine of "Casablanca," who seemed to have bitterly put himself on the sidelines but ultimately couldn't stop himself from doing his part for the anti-Nazi cause.

The New York Times

Giroud has scored 13 times in 19 Premier League appearances in a season that was interrupted by a broken bone in his leg in August that put him on the sidelines for three months.

The Guardian - Sport

In 1984, Mr. Teufel moved to London and worked in a cooperative bakery but soon returned to West Berlin, where he wrote freelance articles for the alternative newspaper Die Tageszeitung and was a bicycle messenger until Parkinson's disease put him on the sidelines.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "put on the sidelines" to describe situations where someone or something is temporarily or permanently removed from active participation or consideration. This implies a reduction in influence or activity.

Common error

Avoid using "put on the sidelines" in contexts where a temporary pause is implied. Opt for more direct language like "temporarily suspended" to avoid confusion about the duration of inactivity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "put on the sidelines" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase. It describes the action of removing someone or something from active participation, often implying a demotion or temporary suspension. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sport

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "put on the sidelines" is an idiomatic phrase used to describe the act of removing someone or something from active participation, often implying a temporary or permanent reduction in influence. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While the expression is mainly used in contexts of news and sport, you can also find it in the formal and business context. Consider using alternatives such as "relegate to the bench" or "exclude from participation" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relegate to the bench

Focuses specifically on sports context; emphasizes demotion to a less active role.

exclude from participation

Highlights the act of preventing someone from taking part in an activity.

suspend from play

Suggests a temporary removal, particularly in sports or games.

remove from consideration

Indicates that something or someone is no longer being considered for a role or opportunity.

shelve indefinitely

Implies a prolonged or permanent postponement of a plan or project.

deactivate temporarily

Highlights a temporary suspension or shutdown of a function or process.

marginalize from the group

Emphasizes making someone feel unimportant or powerless within a group.

render inactive for the time being

Focuses on the idea of making someone inactive.

withdraw from active involvement

Emphasizes the act of stepping away from a project or responsibility.

hold in abeyance

Refers to something being temporarily suspended or put on hold.

FAQs

What does it mean to "put" someone "on the sidelines"?

To "put" someone "on the sidelines" means to exclude them from active participation in an activity, team, or process, often implying a temporary or permanent reduction in their role or influence.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "put on the sidelines"?

It's appropriate to use "put on the sidelines" when describing a situation where someone is intentionally removed or excluded from actively participating, such as a player being benched or a project being temporarily suspended. You can use alternatives like "relegate to the bench" or "shelve indefinitely" depending on the context.

What are some alternatives to saying "put on the sidelines"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "put on the sidelines" include phrases like "exclude from participation", "suspend from play", or "remove from consideration".

Is "put on the sidelines" a formal or informal expression?

"Put on the sidelines" is generally considered a neutral to informal expression. It can be used in news reporting and general conversation, but more formal contexts may require more precise or technical language.