shelve it

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shelve it" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to suggest putting aside a topic or idea for later consideration or discussion. Example: "We have too many issues to address right now, so let's just shelve it until our next meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Take Two has "temporarily suspended" Manhunt 2 in response to the game's ban in the UK and AO rating here in the U.S. The game was supposed to come out on July 10, but its publisher had to shelve it in order to "review its options".

TechCrunch

Ironically, it now falls to Mr. DiIulio's friend Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut to either rid the bill of its most dangerous provisions or shelve it.

The New York Times

Actually, just shelve it.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Huge street protests forced the government to shelve it indefinitely.

The Economist

Should they show the program or shelve it?

The New York Times - Arts

They often shelve it with bottom-feeding tabloids and the Racing Post.

The Economist

When her publisher read her male novel, he kindly suggested she shelve it.

The Guardian

I was pretty much like, 'Let's just shelve it.' Then he died.

The Guardian - Music

But I couldn't find the right other entries to work with it and had to shelve it for a while.

The New York Times

Most songwriters, frustrated by a refrain they wanted to use and couldn't get to work, would just shelve it.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

I know some people read books over and over, but I don't; I'm a once-round-then-shelve-it reader, unless a book really stands out to me.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shelve it" when you want to convey the idea of postponing something, often with the implication that it might not be revisited soon. For a more temporary delay, consider "put it on hold".

Common error

Avoid using "shelve it" when you intend a brief delay. This phrase suggests a more indefinite postponement, so use "put it on hold" or "set aside" if you plan to revisit the issue soon.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shelve it" functions as an idiomatic expression used to indicate the postponement or abandonment of a plan, project, or idea. Ludwig AI's examples show its usage in various contexts, reflecting its versatility in conveying this specific meaning.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Reference

0.5%

Social Media

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "shelve it" is a commonly used idiomatic expression that signifies the act of postponing or abandoning something, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It's suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral, writers should consider more formal options like "defer" in certain settings and ensure they don't use it for short-term delays, where "put it on hold" is more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

put it on hold

Replaces "shelve" with a more general term for temporarily stopping something.

set it aside

Similar to putting on hold, but implies a more deliberate act of reserving something.

defer it

A more formal way of saying to postpone or delay.

table it

Means to postpone discussion of a topic indefinitely or for a specific period.

put it on the back burner

Idiomatic expression for giving something lower priority.

hold off on it

Suggests delaying action on something.

suspend it

To temporarily stop something from being in effect.

adjourn it

To formally postpone a meeting or session.

mothball it

To put something into storage, often with the intention of not using it again soon.

postpone it

A general term for delaying something to a later time.

FAQs

How to use "shelve it" in a sentence?

You can use "shelve it" to indicate postponing or abandoning a plan or idea. Example: "Due to budget constraints, we had to shelve it."

What can I say instead of "shelve it"?

You can use alternatives like "put it on hold", "set it aside", or "defer it" depending on the context.

Is "shelve it" formal or informal?

"Shelve it" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "defer" might be preferred in very formal settings.

What's the difference between "shelve it" and "table it"?

"Shelve it" generally means to postpone or abandon something, while "table it" specifically refers to postponing a discussion or decision in a meeting, often indefinitely.