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Second fiddle
01
第二把小提琴, 次要角色
a secondary role or function
02
配角, 次要角色
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.
首席执行官是大老板，而其它人只是配角。
The politician is the one who makes the decisions, and the advisors are just the second fiddles.
这个政治家是做决定的人，而顾问只是配角。
