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Glite Dictionary
second-string

second-string

1 6.3
A player who does not usually play but replaces others when needed
  • adjective
  • /ˈsɛkənd strɪŋ/
translation icon : suplente
  • But when we play against Michigan, our second string that ran the play, I tackled my man.
  • second-string quarterback
  • second-string team

Examples

  • Although he was a second-string member, his contributions during practice impressed the coaching staff.

  • Speaking of second-string sides, Columbus failed to get a much-needed point or three, facing a Galaxy team at home missing its three biggest names in the starting XI.

    Blog text (31)

  • Thirty-nine-year-old Cap Rooney... ...two-time Pantheon Cup winner, almost 50,000 passing yards... ...now to be replaced by the second-string quarterback.

    Any Given Sunday (1999)

  • He played as a second-string player for the team, taking over only when the starters were unavailable.

  • During the match, the coach decided to bring in the second-string goalie after the main one suffered an injury.

Antonyms

first-string
5 6.0

A main player who regularly starts games and is not a substitute

How Important

star player
13 2.0
starter
140 3.0
second-string
1 6.3
reserve
112 3.7

Surface Forms

second-string positive

Morphology

second-string = second + string (semi-transparent) = second + string

The components 'second' and 'string' are identifiable, but 'string' meaning 'line-up/team' is an idiomatic extension that may not be obvious to all learners.

Etymology

Second-string comes from team sports language, where the first 'string' are the regular 'starters' and the second 'string' are the 'backups' behind them. So a second-string player is a 'substitute' or reserve, not one of the regular team members.