# sit on

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sit-on
Updated: 2026-10-23

## Definition

to delay taking action or making a decision about something, often for a long time.

For teachers: to delay dealing with or responding to something, such as information, a request, or a decision. Transitive; implies a deliberate or negligent lack of progress.

## Examples

- The manager is sitting on my application.
- The committee has been sitting on the report for months, refusing to release the findings to the public.
- The government was accused of sitting on the evidence until after the election to avoid a scandal.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They are sitting on to the news." but "They are sitting on the news." — the preposition 'on' functions as the particle; adding 'to' is redundant and grammatically incorrect.

## Usage notes

- usually takes an inanimate object like a report, a decision, or a piece of news.
- Teaching tip: contrast with the literal sense of sitting on a chair; the figurative sense implies the weight of the person is preventing the object from moving forward.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.