second fiddle

noun

1. a person or thing filling a secondary role, especially to one immediately superior (often used attributively): That new copycat seafood restaurant will never be more than a second fiddle to ours.

   He has a certain strength and humility that comes from being in a second-fiddle position for years.

   That new copycat seafood restaurant will never be more than a second fiddle to ours.

second fiddle

noun

1. 1. the second violin in a string quartet or one of the second violins in an orchestra
   2. the musical part assigned to such an instrument
2. a secondary status
3. a person who has a secondary status

Word History and Origins

Origin of second fiddle¹

First recorded in 1825–35

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. play second fiddle, to act in a secondary role:

   She's tired of playing second fiddle to her egomaniacal teammate.

More idioms and phrases containing second fiddle

see play second fiddle .

Example Sentences

Critics argue the richest and most competitive fight in the female code should not be playing second fiddle to the Tyson-Paul carnival.

From BBC

All week he played second fiddle to Joshua, but the silent assassin refused to be intimidated when it mattered, not taking a single back stop and dropping AJ four times.

From BBC

Harry Brook, usually an aggressor, was another that played second fiddle to Pope in an unbroken stand of 40 of which Brook has so far made eight.

From BBC

Playing second fiddle to Harris marks a shift in the long-standing political dynamic between the two most prominent figures in their generation of California leaders.

From Los Angeles Times

In fact, Harris came under withering criticism for appearing to play such a quiet second fiddle to Biden.

From Salon