second banana

American  

noun

Informal.

1. a comic who supports the leading comedian, often as a straight man, especially in burlesque or vaudeville.

2. any person who plays a secondary role or serves in a subsidiary capacity.

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second banana Idioms  

1. see under top banana.

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Etymology

Origin of second banana

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Ms. Gustern might have thought of herself as a helpmeet or second banana, but her students didn’t see her that way.

From New York Times • Apr. 21, 2022

In one scene, efforts are made to placate bruised second banana Desi with an executive producer credit for "I Love Lucy."

From Salon • Jan. 2, 2022

When “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” debuted on CBS in September 2015, Batiste was the bandleader and second banana.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 7, 2021

A second banana was the second most important person in an organization.

From Washington Post • Jul. 4, 2021

I asked as I peeled my second banana.

From "Liar, Liar" by Gary Paulsen