front burner
8
4.2
- noun
:
prioridad alta
- However, one of the most liberal Episcopal bishops, John S. Spong of the dioceses of Newark, New Jersey, expressed long-term optimism: "I think the victory is: this issue is on the front burner of every province in the world."
- a front burner issue
- a front burner concern
Examples
-
This activist approach, coupled with the post-Cold War decline of military priorities, propelled economic concerns to the front burner.
Academic text (1996) -
"She put public service visibly on the front burner.
Blog text (22) -
So those are the three big things that I wanted to put on the front burner and and let you think about them.
-
Fifth, the Western Hemisphere must be moved to the front burner of U.S. foreign policy.
Academic text (2004) -
"It will be forced on the front burner because as long as we keep doing this and the longer the delay, the bigger the problem becomes."
Blog text (23) -
It will take time, but 9/11 has placed these issues on the front burner.
Academic text (2002) -
This shift has been, amazingly enough, a response to hard times, which has pushed the culture wars off the front burner, just like hard times did in the early 1930s.
Blog text (6) -
The idea of a total gift ban on lobbyists, once dismissed by the legislative brass as unnecessary, is now on the front burner, with an endorsement by House Speaker David Ralston and a bill expected to pop early in the upcoming session.
Blog text (21) -
She also took a leading hand in shaping the details of the protest itself, bringing her humor, her creativity, her political insights, and her passionate insistence that the oppression of women be on the front burner.
Blog text (27) -
The issue of climate change needs to stay on the front burner of our discussions.
Synonyms
73
4.8
The most important position in an area of work or activity
70
3.5
The most important thing to deal with first
51
4.3
In a place where people notice it first
5
4.4
A matter that needs immediate attention and is very important
3
4.7
The thing someone thinks about most right now
The main thing you are thinking about now
Antonyms
How Important
Surface Forms
Morphology
front + burner
The phrase evokes the stove metaphor: a 'front' burner is physically more prominent/used than a 'back' burner, so the idea of immediate attention or priority can be inferred from the constituents. However, this requires cultural/figurative mapping (knowledge of stove layout and the idiomatic contrast with 'back burner'), so the relation is suggestive but not fully predictable for an unexposed B1 learner.
Etymology
The phrase front burner comes from a kitchen stove. The front burner is the hot ring at the front that you can reach and watch easily, so cooks use it for food that needs close care; that's why putting a task on the front burner means giving it 'priority' or 'immediate attention'.