Ara
on the shelf
01
evlenmemiş orta yaşlı kadın, evde kalmış (kız)
used to refer to a woman who is unmarried despite being older than the typical age traditionally associated with marriage
Idiom
Informal
Old use
Example
Despite her successful career and fulfilling life, Jane's relatives often make insensitive comments about her being on the shelf.
Elizabeth feels frustrated when people assume she's unhappy because she's on the shelf.
