second fiddle


Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

second fiddle

n. Informal
1. A secondary role.
2. One who plays a secondary role.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

second fiddle

n
1. (Classical Music)
a. the second violin in a string quartet or one of the second violins in an orchestra
b. the musical part assigned to such an instrument
2. a secondary status
3. a person who has a secondary status
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

sec′ond fid′dle


n.
a person serving in a subsidiary capacity.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.second fiddle - someone who serves in a subordinate capacity or plays a secondary role
second banana
subordinate, subsidiary, underling, foot soldier - an assistant subject to the authority or control of another
2.second fiddle - a secondary role or function; "he hated to play second fiddle to anyone"
role, function, office, part - the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group; "the function of a teacher"; "the government must do its part"; "play its role"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Mentioned in ?
References in classic literature ?
Nicholson was ambitious for his family (in which, and the Disruption Principles, he entirely lived), and he hated to see a son of his play second fiddle to an idler.
View in context
He was no gentle lamb, and the part of second fiddle would never do for the high-pitched dominance of his nature.
View in context
"No, I don't like being second fiddle," answered Peg with a crafty smile.
View in context
So Huddersfield is playing second fiddle at present.
Our town needs the wow factor now
In both 2013 and 2017, he played second fiddle to ODM's Raila Odinga in which they ran on a joint ticket of Cord and Nasa coalition respectively and lost.
Kalonzo's top seat bid becomes harder with every election
THE Federal Government, on Monday, reappraised its four years in office, especially in the mining industry, and concluded that it had laid a solid foundation for the sector, urging the professionals to stop playing second fiddle.
Mining Sector: Stop Playing Second Fiddle, FG Tasks Professionals
Atsu, who has had to play second fiddle to a number of other options in Newcastle's attack this season kept his place in the team after an impressive display in the draw against Everton in midweek.
Newcastle fans hail Atsu's display despite defeat to Wolves
Mohamad in a statement seen as a criticism towards his own boss, party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said Umno should not play second fiddle to any party.
'Forget it': Umno No. 2 resists playing second fiddle to PAS, Pakatan
Their ambition and ideals for a just and fairer Wales are relentlessly subsumed by party politics; and Plaid Cymru will always have to play second fiddle to their allegiance to Westminster and the English Crown.
Lords' high ideals fall victim to party politics
The P5+1 deal has been left in a shambles by Donald Trump, playing second fiddle to Bejamin Netanyahu.
Nuclear deal
Phillips finished with 16 points as the second fiddle to Anisova while Field added eight points.
Balanced attack helps Sta. Lucia in rout of Cignal
Home prices and consumer confidence perked up, but played second fiddle to the overdue correction in stocks.
Treasury Closing Summary:

Dictionary browser ?
Full browser ?