second fiddle
8
6.0
- idiom
- /ˈsɛkənd ˈfɪdəl/
- Informal
:
segundo violín
- When Jackson returns, a fair argument can be made that he should be playing second fiddle to Spiller.
- play second fiddle
Real men are willing to play the support role, second fiddle to support their powerful wives.
- Real men are willing to play the support role, second fiddle to support their powerful wives.
- So so that was my stand up basically playing second fiddle, rightfully so, but nevertheless second fiddle to Mike Myers and wedding Myers hands.
Examples
-
In the life she had actually lived, she had played second fiddle to his first in a succession of string quartets.
Fiction book (1991) -
Why do I always have to play second fiddle to her?
Fiction book (1994) -
I'm tired of playing second fiddle.
-
Even where the state capital is a major media market, state political news usually plays second fiddle to metropolitan news.
Academic text (2000) -
The White Sox play second fiddle in their own city.
Blog text (6) -
I'm sick of playing second fiddle to you, and you getting all the recognition.
-
I know you ladies don't like playing second fiddle, but... it'll be your time to shine tomorrow night.
-
Playing second fiddle to Harada doesn't suit Tanaka one bit.
-
We think we've played second fiddle to Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki long enough.
-
After years of working tirelessly, she finally realized she was playing second fiddle to her colleague, who always received the credit.
Synonyms
214
2.8
Having a lower job that supports a higher role
4
7.6
A person who supports the main performer, often in comedy
A person seen as not important who follows orders
Antonyms
How Important
Surface Forms
Morphology
2nd + fiddle
The parts 'second' (a lower rank) and 'fiddle' (a violin) give a visible metaphor of being the number-two player in an ensemble, so a learner who recognises 'fiddle' as an instrument could infer a subordinate/supporting role. However, this mapping relies on cultural/idiomatic knowledge of orchestral roles and on knowing the less frequent word 'fiddle', so the meaning is not fully predictable for an average B1 learner without prior exposure.
Etymology
Second fiddle comes from the orchestra, where the first fiddle, the lead violin, plays the main tune and the second fiddle plays behind to support it. That's why second fiddle means 'a person who is less important'.