A state of low priority where something is temporarily set aside to focus on more urgent matters.
This metaphor originates from cooking stoves where the back burners were traditionally used for simmering or keeping things warm while the front burners handled active cooking. The phrase entered common usage in the mid-20th century as a way to describe task prioritization.
The genius of this metaphor is that it implies the item isn't forgotten - it's still cooking, just more slowly. Unlike completely abandoning something, the back burner suggests patient, gentle progress while attention focuses elsewhere, like a good stew that improves with time.
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