warm the bench

verb

To remain out of play during a game or match; to act as a substitute.

“I spent the whole game warming the bench – I didn't get to play at all.”

Similar
ride the benchride the pine
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Meanings

verbwarm the bench (third-person singular simple present warms the bench, present participle warming the bench, simple past and past participle warmed the bench)

present singular third person warms the bench · participle present warming the bench · participle past warmed the bench · past warmed the bench

  1. colloquialhobbiesTo remain out of play during a game or match; to act as a substitute.

    I spent the whole game warming the bench – I didn't get to play at all.

    Synonyms: ride the bench, ride the pine

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo remain out of play during a game or match; to act as a substitute.

Similar
ride the benchride the pine

More synonyms by meaning

verbbe out of the game

Similar
ride the bench
Broader
idlelazeslug
Also see
ride the bench

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

French cirer le banc
  • cirer le bancTranslations
Spanish calentar el banquillo, chupar el banquillo
  • calentar el banquilloTranslations
  • chupar el banquilloTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

warm the bench. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/warm%20the%20bench

MLA

“warm the bench.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/warm%20the%20bench. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “warm the bench,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/warm%20the%20bench.

Source: warm the bench on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.