second fiddle

American  

noun

1. a person or thing filling a secondary role, especially to one immediately superior (often used attributively): That new copycat seafood restaurant will never be more than a second fiddle to ours.

   He has a certain strength and humility that comes from being in a second-fiddle position for years.

   That new copycat seafood restaurant will never be more than a second fiddle to ours.

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idioms

1. play second fiddle, to act in a secondary role.

   She's tired of playing second fiddle to her egomaniacal teammate.

second fiddle British  

noun

1. 1. the second violin in a string quartet or one of the second violins in an orchestra

   2. the musical part assigned to such an instrument

2. a secondary status

3. a person who has a secondary status

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second fiddle More Idioms  

1. see play second fiddle.

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Etymology

Origin of second fiddle

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

The company’s main generator of revenue, electric vehicles, often plays second fiddle.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

During his time at Arsenal, Manninger largely played second fiddle to David Seaman, but deputised for the injured England keeper late in the 1997-98 season.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

None of it is subtle, or second fiddle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

“Ghost Elephants” is a Werner Herzog film so, unsurprisingly, the titular characters play second fiddle to a man on an arduous quest, with fascinating digressions along the way.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

From such impudent and vulgar conduct as this, we heard a certain royal duke observe, "I wish to serve the queen, but I will not be Mr. Wood's cat's-paw, nor play second fiddle to him!"

From Secret History of the Court of England, from the Accession of George the Third to the Death of George the Fourth, Volume II (of 2) Including, Among Other Important Matters, Full Particulars of the Mysterious Death of the Princess Charlotte by Hamilton, Lady Anne