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

See Examples For:

second fiddle

Despite playing second fiddle for much of the campaign, Trafford was given his England debut last month in the friendly draw against Uruguay.

From BBC ● Apr. 24, 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

Tesla might end up playing second fiddle to another Elon Musk company on its own earnings call.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 26, 2026

I’m getting to be a second fiddle around here.

From The Orphan by Clarence E. Mulford