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

“The Flash,” directed by Andy Muschietti from a script by Christina Hodson, shrewdly keeps Barry in don’t-get-no-respect mode even as it moves this self-deprecating second banana front and center.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 15, 2023

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

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

From Washington Post • Jul. 4, 2021

Watching Candace Against the Universe with my delighted, now–Candace-aged Phineas and Ferb fans, I was so pleased to see a longtime second banana get her due.

From Slate • Aug. 24, 2020

As a second banana shoe burp-squeaked onto the floor, Kyle looked up and there he was—Mr. Lemoncello!

From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein