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to unshelve (a proposal)

to unshelve (a proposal)

8.0
To bring back a proposal that was set aside for discussion
  • phrasal verb
  • /ʌnˈʃɛlv/
translation icon : revisar
  • Pressure from stakeholders led the committee to unshelve the proposal that had been ignored last year.

Examples

  • After several months, the board chose to unshelve the proposal and review its merits again.

  • If new funding becomes available, they may unshelve the proposal and move forward with the project.

  • After several months, the board chose to unshelve the proposal and review its merits again.

  • If new funding becomes available, they may unshelve the proposal and move forward with the project.

  • Pressure from stakeholders led the committee to unshelve the proposal that had been ignored last year.

Synonyms

to revisit
vsto unshelve (a proposal)
72 3.7

To return to an idea or topic to think about it again

brings a set-aside idea back for active discussion rather than simple review
to unshelve
vsto unshelve (a proposal)
6.8

Put a plan back into active use after it was set aside

returns a set-aside idea for discussion and reconsideration
to repropose
vsto unshelve (a proposal)
7.0

To suggest an idea again after people refused it

brings a set-aside idea back for discussion rather than because it was rejected
to unshelve the project
vsto unshelve (a proposal)
7.0

To start work again on a project that was paused or stopped

returns a set-aside idea for discussion rather than restarting work

Antonyms

11 5.0

To stop work on a plan or project for now

How Active

to adopt
440 3.2
to unshelve (a proposal)
8.0
to reopen
182 1.4
to raise
3.2
to note
951 1.6

Surface Forms

unshelve infinitive
unshelved past
unshelved past participle
unshelving present participle
unshelves third person singular

Morphology

unshelve + (a + proposal)

The verb 'unshelve' is transparently built from the negating prefix 'un-' plus 'shelve' (to put aside/on a shelf); if a learner knows 'shelve' in the sense of setting a proposal aside, they can infer 'unshelve' as reversing that action. The phrase 'unshelve a proposal' therefore directly conveys 'bring back for reconsideration' with no idiomatic shift, so it should be understandable to a B1 learner who knows the constituents.

Etymology

The verb unshelve (a proposal) comes from the simple image of taking something down from a shelf after it was put away. So, to unshelve a proposal means 'to bring a plan back for discussion'.