Put a pin in it
Meaning
To temporarily set aside a topic or discussion to address it at a later time.
Origin
The idiom "put a pin in it" vividly captures the act of suspending a discussion, much like one would physically pin a document or note to a bulletin board. This practice, ubiquitous in offices and homes for centuries, signifies that something is important enough to be saved and revisited, yet not urgent enough to be dealt with immediately. The phrase metaphorically suggests placing the topic on a mental corkboard, keeping it visible and preserved for future attention, thereby making a practical physical action into a common linguistic tool for managing conversations and deferring decisions.
Examples
- That's a great idea for the new marketing campaign, but we're out of time, so let's put a pin in it and revisit it next week.
- We need to put a pin in the budget conversation until we have the final figures from all departments.