on the back burner 放在次要位置；处于次要地位

【例句】
Despite my pain, the doctors put me on the back burner.
虽然我很难受，可医生们还是把我放在了次要位置。

The hostage had been put on the back burner by the American government.
那些人质不是美国政府的当务之急，已暂时搁置一旁。