ON THE SHELF, phr. (various).—1.  (general) = laid aside, in reserve, past service: Fr. brûlé; 2 (military) = under arrest; 3 (old) = in pawn (GROSE); 4 (thieves’) = transported; 5 (common) = dead: whence OFF THE SHELF = resurrected.

1

  1587.  GASCOIGNE, Fruits of War, 132 [CHALMERS, English Poets, ii. 522, 2, 4].

        And I that neuer yet was SET ON SHELF,
When any sayld, or winde, or waues could weeld,
Went after him to shew my selfe in field.

2

  1655.  HEYWOOD, Fortune by Land and Sea, v. 2.

        Where now the fates have cast us ON THE SHELF,
To hang ’twixt air and water.

3

  1821.  P. EGAN, Life in London, II. ii. Once a distinguished leader of fashion,… but he is ON THE SHELF now.

4

  1833.  D. O’CONNELL [O’C. Correspondence (1888), i. 387], 17 Sept. Lord Anglesey now is obliged reluctantly to retire. Blackburne will be put ON THE SHELF.

5

  1842.  The Comic Almanack, 324.

        For though “six, seven, eight,” have got, each of them, nicks,
They, at last, lay the gambler undone ON THE SHELF.

6

  1857.  A. TROLLOPE, The Three Clerks, iv. What, pension him! put him on half-pay—SHELF HIM for life, while he was still anxiously expecting that promotion.

7

  c. 1870.  Music Hall Song, ‘Hands Off.’ Some fine day, when I’m … Put to bed with a spade in the usual way, And yourself ON THE SHELF a neglected old maid.

8

  1894.  Illustrated Bits, 7 April, 4, 2. It should be explained here that [it] had been ON THE SHELF some time.

9

  1901.  FERGUS HUME, The Crime of the Crystal, i. Tell ’em to get back into their graves at once … we don’t take any folks OFF THE SHELF.

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