second fiddle

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The phrase "second fiddle" is an idiom in English. It refers to someone who plays a secondary or supporting role, rather than being the main person in charge or in the spotlight. Imagine a musical group where the first violin (the lead musician) gets all the attention, while the second violin plays a supportive role. That’s where the term comes from!

Simple Explanation:

• Meaning: To be in a less important or less prominent position than someone else.
• Usage: You can use "second fiddle" when talking about someone who is not the leader or main focus in a situation.

Example:

• "In the project, Sarah always feels like she has to play second fiddle to her boss, who takes all the credit."

Advanced Usage:

In a workplace or team setting, someone might feel they are playing second fiddle if they support a leader but do not get recognition for their contributions. You might say, "Despite her hard work, Emily often finds herself playing second fiddle to her more outspoken colleague."

Word Variants:

• Second fiddler: A person who plays the secondary role.
  • Example: "He is not a second fiddler; he has his own ideas and leadership skills."

Different Meanings:

The phrase itself is quite specific and does not have many different meanings. However, it generally conveys the idea of being in a supportive position rather than leading.

Synonyms:

• Supportive role
• Assistant
• Subordinate
• Understudy (in performance contexts)

Related Idioms:

• "Take a back seat": This means to allow someone else to take control or be more important than you.
  • Example: "He decided to take a back seat and let his teammate lead the presentation."

Phrasal Verbs:

There are no direct phrasal verbs that correspond exactly to "second fiddle," but you might encounter phrases like: - "Step aside": To make way for someone else to take the lead. - Example: "She decided to step aside and let her colleague shine in the meeting."

Conclusion:

Understanding the phrase "second fiddle" can help you describe situations where someone is not in the main role but still plays an important part.

Academic

Noun

1. a secondary role or function
   • he hated to play second fiddle to anyone
2. someone who serves in a subordinate capacity or plays a secondary role

Synonyms

• second banana