Wiktionary
vb. (context idiomatic English) to remain unused for a long period of time
Usage examples of "gather dust".
Seen from the apex of the big arch in the Causeway throughmiles of bad air, the view was curiously flattened and faded,if the whole scene had been woven into a fabulously complexthat had been allowed to gather dust for several decades andbeen hung in front of Nell, about ten feet away.
More than likely the books would gather dust on some hidden shelf until the end of time with no human hand ever laid upon them.
While attempting to settle this dispute, New Rome had seemingly left the case for the canonization of Leibowitz to gather dust on the shelf.
Wiz and his friends were dumped there and left to gather dust against the day when Craig would have a proper trophy room to display them.