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take a back seat

Idioms

Occupy an inferior position; allow another to be in control. For example, Linda was content to take a back seat and let Nancy run the meeting. This idiom uses back seat in contrast to the driver's seat, that is, the one in control. [Mid-1800s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

take a back seat

Fertilizer components may take a back seat to oil and oil products when it comes to transiting Hormuz.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 16, 2026

"Emotions take a back seat," he said, his eyes bloodshot after having worked with his colleagues throughout the night.

From Barron's ● May 25, 2026

The looming costs associated with keeping cities livable for residents can take a back seat to pension and debt payments—and remain invisible to investors in the $4 trillion muni bond market.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 5, 2026

As is typical with these congressional addresses, no matter who the president is, foreign policy tended to take a back seat.

From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2026

What, I'm supposed to take a back seat to some punk kid who didn't even really want in?

From "How It Went Down" by Kekla Magoon

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023