1
general::
Phrase(s): in the pipeline
Fig. backed up somewhere in a process; in process; in a queue. • There’s a lot of goods still in the pipeline. That means no more new orders will be shipped for a while. • Your papers are in the pipeline somewhere. You’ll just have to wait.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
1. In process, under way, as in The blueprints for the new machine are in the pipeline, but it will take months to get approval. [Colloquial; 1940s] Also see IN THE WORKS. 2. Budgeted for something but not yet spent, as in There's $5 million more in the pipeline for the city schools. [Colloquial; second half of 1900s]
American Heritage Idioms