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on the shelf
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used to refer to a woman who is unmarried despite being older than the typical age traditionally associated with marriage
What is the origin of the idiom "on the shelf" and when to use it?
The origin of the idiom "on the shelf" can be traced back to the practice of placing items, particularly books, on a shelf for storage or display. Over time, the phrase took on a figurative meaning when applied to people, particularly unmarried women, who were considered past the typical age for marriage. It is used to describe someone, especially a woman, who is not married and is seen as being too old to get married. the phrase "on the shelf" can be considered somewhat old-fashioned. It reflects traditional societal expectations and judgments related to age and marriage.
Esempio
She neatly arranged the books on the shelf, sorting them by genre and author.
She stood the books neatly on the shelf, organizing them by genre.
I have six books in my bag, and three more on the shelf, which makes nine.
After distributing the books to the students, only a few copies remained on the shelf.
The librarian numbered the books on the shelf for easier organization.
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