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Second fiddle
01
a secondary role or function
02
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.
second fiddle
n
Example
He's the second fiddle in our band, but he's a great musician.
She's the second fiddle to her more famous sister, but she's a talented actress in her own right.
The CEO is the big kahuna, and everyone else is just the second fiddle.
He's always been the second fiddle to his younger brother, but he's finally starting to come into his own.
The politician is the one who makes the decisions, and the advisors are just the second fiddles.
