put in mothballs

Defer indefinitely or for a very long time, as in We've put the plans for a new library in mothballs. This expression alludes to storing woolen clothing or other items with marble-size balls of naphthalene or camphor to prevent them from being damaged by moths. [1940s]

Words nearby put in mothballs

put ideas into someone's head, put in, put in a good word, put in an appearance, put in mind of, put in mothballs, put in one's place, put in one's two cents, put in order, put in the way of, put into effect