bring out of mothballs
bring (something) out of mothballs
1. To take an object out of storage after a period of disuse. Mothballs—little balls composed of a pungent chemical used to deter moths—are often kept in closets, attics, and other places where clothes are stored. Now that the weather is getting colder, it's time to bring our winter clothes out of mothballs. This new shipment of parts will allow us to bring the plane out of mothballs soon.
2. By extension, to begin to use or implement something. I did like your idea, Tom, but we can't bring it out of mothballs until we finish our outstanding projects.
See also: bring, mothball, of, out
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
bring something out of mothballs
Fig. to bring something out of storage and into use; to restore something to active service. They were going to bring a number of ships out of mothballs, but the war ended before they needed them.
See also: bring, mothball, of, out
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- bring (something) out of mothballs
- mothball
- in mothballs
- put (something) in mothballs
- put in mothballs
- collect dust
- catch dust
- twelve good men and true
- fall into disuse
- black babies