gather dust

gather dust

To be unused or forgotten, especially for a long period of time. My writing skills have been gathering dust ever since I got this job in the IT department. My grandfather still insists on writing letters by hand, while the laptop I got him gathers dust in the corner of the kitchen.
See also: dust, gather
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

gather dust

Fig. [for something] to sit unused for a long time. Most of my talent is just gathering dust because I don't really have an opportunity to perform.
See also: dust, gather
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

gather dust

COMMON If something gathers dust, it is not used or dealt with for a very long time. The report has been gathering dust on a shelf. She swam in the pool every morning and used the treadmill that had been gathering dust.
See also: dust, gather
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

gather (or collect) dust

remain unused.
See also: dust, gather
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

gather ˈdust

(of plans, recommendations, etc.) be forgotten or ignored: As usual the report was left to gather dust and not dealt with by the authorities for years.
See also: dust, gather
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • go a-begging
  • a nine days' wonder
  • nine days' wonder
  • dawn (up)on (one)
  • dawn on
  • don't hide your light under a bushel
  • it will soon blow over
  • languish
  • languish in
  • scrap
References in periodicals archive
The McCanns' spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, called for their "arguido" status to be lifted but urged police not to leave the investigation files to "gather dust".
We won't give up on Maddie; CRIME: Parents' pledge as police set to halt investigation
This study did not even get the chance to gather dust on a shelf.
Record View: Toll for nothing
Or the interesting collections of prayers or practices or saints that gather dust on your nightstand?
Food for thought
Julia Barraclough, events co-ordinator for the charity, said: "Most of the old models will gather dust in a drawer or be thrown away but by handing them over we can raise money for a worthwhile cause.
Don't throw it
I'll be very disappointed if it sits on a shelf, to say the least." - Declan Conroy, author of the 75-page report published this week into the mechanics of League of Ireland football, calls on the FAI to discuss and debate his findings, rather than leaving the document to gather dust.
FRIDAY FEVER
It's nearly a year to the day since Libertas moved out of its massive offices in Brussels, leaving behind them thousands of euro worth of electronic equipment to gather dust.
Libertas gone... What took so long?
"Instead of letting them gather dust, people can bring them into any of our hospice shops."
Charity appeal for gifts
Rather than let it gather dust, George and Kenny, who bought the piano a few years ago, decided to put it on a tour of its own.
the Razz: George is keyed up for peace
Sometimes careless people, all too often Catholics, tend to put this priceless gift on a barely accessible shelf - there to gather dust rather than radiate grace as it should.
Are we still the Marian kind?
I remember almost 20 years ago being flown to Belgium to drive a hybrid concept car called the Prius and thinking at the time that I would probably never see another one again and that it would be consigned to a warehouse to gather dust.
6 Toyota's Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle [...]