off the shelf

shelf  (shlf)

n. pl. shelves (shlvz)

1.

a. A flat, usually rectangular structure composed of a rigid material, such as wood, glass, or metal, fixed at right angles to a wall or other vertical surface and used to hold or store objects.

b. The contents or capacity of such a structure.

c. Something, such as a projecting ledge of rock or a balcony, that resembles such a structure.

2. A reef, sandbar, or shoal.

3. Bedrock.

Idioms:

off the shelf

From ready-made merchandise in stock: supplies that were available off the shelf.

on the shelf

1. In a state of disuse.

2.

a. Unemployed.

b. Out of circulation.

c. Retired.

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[Middle English, probably from Middle Low German schelf; see skel-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

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shelfful n.

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off the shelf

adv

(Business / Commerce) from stock and readily available you can have this model off the shelf

adj (off-the-shelf when prenominal)

1. (Business / Commerce) of or relating to a product that is readily available an off-the-shelf model

2. (Business / Commerce) of or denoting a company that has been registered with the Registrar of Companies for the sole purpose of being sold