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to accept a less important, less visible, or secondary role compared to someone else
![to [take] a back seat definition and meaning](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/43174/original/?type=jpeg "to [take] a back seat definition and meaning")
Idiom
InformalWhat is the origin of the idiom "take a back seat" and when to use it?
The idiom "take a back seat" is thought to have originated in the mid-19th century from stagecoach travel, in reference to the seats in a stagecoach. The most desirable seats were the ones in the front, which allowed passengers to see the road ahead and have a better view of the scenery. The seats in the back were less desirable, as passengers had to endure a bumpy ride and were unable to see as well. Over time, the idiom came to be used figuratively to mean to be placed in a less important or weaker position compared to someone else.
to stop participating actively, often because success seems unlikely or because one chooses to withdraw
