(put/stick) a pin in it
Meaning(s)
1. put something on hold until a later date
Popularity
Medium
Professional
Medium
Social
How to Memorize
let's stick a pin in it until the next meeting
Analysis
If you tell someone to 'put a pin in it' or 'stick a pin in it', it means you're asking them to hold onto that thought or idea to come back to it later. This is a very informal expression used in both social and professional contexts. It is particularly useful in brainstorming situations. Similar in meaning to 'hold that thought' or 'let's get back to that later'.
Social Examples (Advance)
- John isn't yet sure whether he can finish work early enough to meet up for dinner on Friday evening, so let's just stick a pin in our plans until we know his schedule.
- I’d love to visit my family in Seville this year but I don’t know if we’ll have the money after fixing the car. Let’s stick a pin in it and look at booking flights in September.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- My boss said that she didn't have time to deal with the issue at the moment, so told us to stick a pin in it. We will look at it again a little further down the line.
- It's an interesting idea, but we can't make a decision on whether to go ahead with it until the Board meet next week, so let's just stick a pin in it for now.