backseat

[ bak-seet ]

noun

1. a seat at the rear.

Word History and Origins

Origin of backseat¹

First recorded in 1825–35

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. take a backseat, to occupy a secondary or inferior position:

   Her writing has taken a backseat because of other demands on her time.

Example Sentences

This is what happens when the right-wing media spreads propaganda, the mainstream media treated him like a legitimate candidate and concrete policies take the backseat to personality and feelings.

From Salon

Indeed, after the ban, some resorted to extreme measures – one man was caught attempting to drive into Russia from Poland with 460kg of banned cheese on the backseat of his car.

From BBC

Hochman said Wednesday that his decisive victory is proof that Angelenos — and perhaps Californians at large — are fed up with policies that cause crime fighting to take a backseat to criminal justice reform.

From Los Angeles Times

Kamala Harris’ politics of joy takes a backseat to warnings about Trump.

From Los Angeles Times

She grabbed a pillow and blanket from the trunk and settled into the backseat for the night.

From Los Angeles Times