gather dust An idea, plan or project which is gathering dust is in fact stagnating or has not attracted attention for some time. 想法、计划或项目是gather dust，意思就是它是停滞不前的，或者说已经有一段时间没有引起人们的注意了。 积灰，闲置 books just gathering dust on the shelf 书架上闲置的书本 My briefcase was already beginning to gather dust. 我的公文包已开始在积灰了。