bench jockey

American  

noun

Chiefly Baseball.

1. a vociferous player, coach, or manager who makes a specialty of baiting or harassing the umpires or opposing players, usually from the bench.

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Etymology

Origin of bench jockey

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

In the relaxed milieu of the campaign plane, Bush can seem like any bench jockey spitting out nicknames and wisecracks.

From Time Magazine Archive

As a bench jockey, Burdette has been challenged to fisticuffs by Jackie Robinson, once even goaded even-tempered Roy Campanella into chasing him with a bat.

From Time Magazine Archive

And once there, the kid is more likely to be a bench jockey, a Harthorne Wingo, than an idol-of-millions type like the Detroit Pistons' Isiah Thomas.

From Time Magazine Archive

The deep-dish whammy comes from a Lakers fanatic, bravura bench jockey and this year's monster movie star, Jack Nicholson.

From Time Magazine Archive