second fiddle
Plural
second fiddles
1
a secondary role or function
2
a person who does not receive as much attention or is not as influential as someone else in a group or organization
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.
- The CEO is the big kahuna, and everyone else is just the second fiddle.
- The politician is the one who makes the decisions, and the advisors are just the second fiddles.
- 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.
- He's always been the second fiddle to his younger brother, but he's finally starting to come into his own.
Synonyms: