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  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

un libro nel cassetto

English translation: (unpublished) manuscript lying (gathering dust) in a drawer

09:06 Dec 2, 2017
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Italian term or phrase: un libro nel cassetto
Hi! I was wondering which is the English idiomatic way to talk about having "un libro nel cassetto", which is a book that you wrote, you have there but don't find the time, opportunity or possibility to publish it.
I have found "to have a book on the back burner", but I am not sure about it. Maybe could you confirm this or suggest a better solution? Thank you very much for your help!

Best wishes,

Laura
Laura Tosi
Italy
Local time: 21:59
English translation:(unpublished) manuscript lying (gathering dust) in a drawer
Explanation:
Hi Laura, I would have thought a book "on the back burner" was probably one you were still working on, whereas if we're talking about something that's more or less finished, you could perhaps call it an "unpublished manuscript gathering dust in a drawer"...something like that?
Selected response from:

Dan Newton
Local time: 21:59
Grading comment
Thank you very much Dan also for the explanation on "on the back burner" and thank you all for your comments! Best, Laura

4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3(unpublished) manuscript lying (gathering dust) in a drawer
Dan Newton


  

Answers


19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
(unpublished) manuscript lying (gathering dust) in a drawer


Explanation:
Hi Laura, I would have thought a book "on the back burner" was probably one you were still working on, whereas if we're talking about something that's more or less finished, you could perhaps call it an "unpublished manuscript gathering dust in a drawer"...something like that?

Dan Newton
Local time: 21:59
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you very much Dan also for the explanation on "on the back burner" and thank you all for your comments! Best, Laura

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Lisa Jane: Yes this could work well, a manuscript gathering dust somewhere
2 mins
  -> thanks Lisa!
agree  Lara Barnett: Anything that "gathers dust" is something that has been left lying, neglected.
6 hrs
  -> thank you Lara!
agree  philgoddard
6 hrs
  -> cheers Phil!
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