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Glite Dictionary
in the hopper

in the hopper

3 8.2
Waiting to be acted on or decided
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : en espera
  • There are several proposals in the hopper awaiting approval from the board.
  • bill in the hopper
  • already in the hopper

Otherwise, Doctor Dan Engel and a variety of other things that are in the hopper.

Examples

  • When legislative proposals for reform were in the hopper, it seems most defense lawyers chose to lay low rather than express an opinion, especially if it was critical.

    Academic text (2006)

  • With Top Rank not having much to offer, they could offer Rios, but Brandon's in the hopper for Manny, not Bradley; his options are very, very limited.

    Blog text (9)

  • We have some things in the hopper that we'd looking forward to doing.

  • What else might be in the hopper for Obama's second term, if it happens?

    Blog text (14)

  • "It's in the hopper," Teddy'd say when I reminded him about my plan.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • We had so many projects in the hopper that pursuing this project had to be put on the back burner.

    Blog text (16)

  • Now, there is legislation in the hopper that, if passed, would require the services to initiate demonstration projects using commissioned chiropractors.

    Academic text (1993)

  • At least write them and put them in the hopper even if you know they're going to be tabled, FCOL!

    Blog text (9)

  • Greenberg also dismissed the notion that developers may be putting too many mixed-use projects in the hopper.

    Blog text (22)

  • And although the legislation was already in the hopper before the Halverson matter broke, the controversial judge became—in the words of one legislator—a poster child for the measure.

    Academic text (2007)

Synonyms

on the table
vsin the hopper
205 3.5

Available for discussion or decision later

focus on being prepared or considered, not only available for discussion
pending
vsin the hopper
18 3.0

Waiting for a decision or result

focus on being prepared or considered rather than only awaiting decision
in the pipeline
vsin the hopper
12 5.0

Planned and prepared to happen soon

focus on awaiting action or decision rather than expecting quick occurrence
on the anvil
vsin the hopper
  • Archaic
8.1

In the process of being planned or developed and not yet finished

focus on awaiting decision or action instead of active development
waiting
vsin the hopper
1.0

Ready and available for use or action

focus on being prepared or considered rather than mere readiness

Antonyms

completed
1.0

Finished and not needing any more work

decided
2.6

Very clear and easy to notice

How Ready

ready
1 2.3
in the hopper
  • Informal
3 8.2
unstarted
1 4.3

Surface Forms

in the hopper positive

Morphology

in + the + hopper

The phrase combines the locative preposition 'in' with 'hopper' (a receptacle or bin), so there is a clear metaphorical link: something placed inside a hopper is awaiting processing. However, 'hopper' is relatively low-frequency and the conventionalized, institutional sense 'awaiting action/decision' is specialized and may not be fully predictable to a B1 learner even if they know the constituent words.

Etymology

The expression in the hopper comes from old machines that used a hopper, a box or funnel that held grain or paper while it waited to be ground or printed. So, if something is in the hopper today, it is 'waiting to be processed' or 'waiting for a decision'.