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.

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take a back seat

“Discretionary purchases are going to take a back seat, and Vegas is a very discretionary decision,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

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

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

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