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Second fiddle
01
secondo violino, ruolo secondario
a secondary role or function
02
il secondo violino, l'assistente
a person who does not receive as much attention or is not as influential as someone else in a group or organization
Idiom
InformalWhat is the origin of the idiom "second fiddle" and when to use it?
The idiom "second fiddle" is thought to have originated in the early 1800s, likely in reference to the role of the second violin in an orchestra. The first violin is typically the lead instrument, while the second violin plays a supporting role, providing harmony and accompaniment. Over time, the phrase "second fiddle" came to be used more figuratively to mean someone who is in a secondary or supporting role, often to a more important or prominent person.
Example
The CEO is the big kahuna, and everyone else is just the second fiddle.
Il CEO è il grande kahuna, e tutti gli altri sono solo il secondo violino, l'assistente.
The politician is the one who makes the decisions, and the advisors are just the second fiddles.
Il politico è colui che prende le decisioni, e gli assistenti sono solo il secondo violino.
