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Glite Dictionary
on the anvil

on the anvil

8.1
In the process of being planned or developed and not yet finished
  • idiom
  • Archaic
translation icon : en proceso
  • Her latest book is on the anvil, awaiting the final round of editing.

Examples

  • The new policy is still on the anvil and will be announced next month.

  • Several technological innovations are on the anvil at this research institute.

  • The new project is still on the anvil.

  • Are there any ideas on the anvil for next year's conference?

  • Her latest book is on the anvil, awaiting the final round of editing.

  • Several technological innovations are on the anvil at this research institute.

  • The new policy is still on the anvil and will be announced next month.

Synonyms

on the table
vson the anvil
205 3.5

Available for discussion or decision later

is about being considered or planned rather than being actively developed
work in progress
vson the anvil
41 3.4

A project that is not finished yet

is an ongoing project under development not yet completed
in the pipeline
vson the anvil
12 5.0

Planned and prepared to happen soon

is being developed but without implication it will happen soon
WIP
vson the anvil
  • Jargon
5 7.2

An unfinished piece of work still being developed

is the phrase for work that is still being planned or developed
in the hopper
vson the anvil
  • Informal
3 8.2

Waiting to be acted on or decided

is in the process of development rather than merely awaiting decision
unimplemented
vson the anvil
  • Specialized
7.2

Not yet put into use, often in software or plans

is still in planning or development rather than finalized but unused

Antonyms

completed
1.0

Finished and not needing any more work

consummated
  • Formal
6.8

Fully finished, often in a formal or legal way

How Developed

completed
1.0
on the anvil
  • Archaic
8.1

Surface Forms

on the anvil positive

Morphology

on + the + anvil

The phrase evokes the literal image of something placed on an anvil to be worked on, so its meaning ‘being developed or planned’ is a metaphorical extension of the constituents rather than strictly compositional. This connection is inferable but not a routine particle/verb composition pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the words may still need exposure to map the image to the abstract sense.

Etymology

On the anvil comes from blacksmiths. When a metal piece sits on the anvil, the smith is still shaping it and it is not finished, so that image explains why the phrase means 'in the process of being developed'.