You become a shelf friend when you become an option. You are not first pick of friends. When your friend starts dating someone and you are put up on a shelf until they have no other people to hang with.
當你成為“備選項”,你就成了“架子上的朋友”。朋友們找人一起出去玩不會第一個想到你。當你的朋友開始約會,就不會再聯系你,除非找不到其他人可以一起玩。
Example:
I was put up on the shelf until she had a need for me. I was her shelf friend.
她總是有需要的時候才來找我,我是她的“備胎朋友”。