Nautical a small railing around the top of a table to prevent objects from falling off it in bad weather Fiddle a stringed instrument, played with a bow. Meaning of Idiom 'Play Second Fiddle' To play second fiddle to someone is to be subordinate to them; to be of lesser importance. (n) A fiddle part in harmony on very first fiddle. An example of second fiddle is the Vice President who serves under and assists the President. Meaning of play second fiddle. From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English play second fiddle (to somebody) play second fiddle (to somebody) (also play second banana informal) IMPORTANT to be in a lower position or rank than someone else → play Examples from the Corpus play second fiddle (to somebody) • Mr Pozsgay was simply fed up with playing second fiddle, a characteristic that was to re-emerge later. It is one of the most commonly used expressions in English writings. To be in a supporting or subservient role to someone else; from an orchestra in which the first violinist holds the most important position Not quite so much less as its companion 'play first fiddle' which was commonplace when the two terms were coined but is now long resident in the linguistic graveyard. What does fiddle expression mean? The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third… Enrich your vocabulary with the English Definition … How to use play in a sentence. The expression 'play second fiddle' had its heyday in the middle of the 20th century and is now used less and less. accept a lower position, take a back seat Kirk won't play second fiddle to her. The expression derives from the respective roles of the fiddles or violins in an orchestra. 1st fiddle player is the most important, but the second fiddle isn't as important, the girl is saying she doesn't want to be last, but 1st. playing second fiddle. See full dictionary entry for fiddle Often using descriptive imagery, common idioms are words and phrases used in the English language in order to convey a concise idea, and are often spoken or are considered informal or conversational. Another word for play second fiddle. 1. 1987, Joyce Brandon, Lady and the Lawman (page 346) an inferior position (see also play second fiddle) Get a second fiddle mug for your dog Riley. Noun []. Ask Lisa: I am playing second fiddle in my relationship. music The person playing second fiddle. 'Play second fiddle' derives from the orchestral role of Second Violin. ENGLISH IDIOMS 2.EDITION. second fiddle. Find more ways to say second fiddle, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. Sheila was determined to be the star of the show and she was not going to play second fiddle to anyone. Meaning of play second fiddle. Fiddle definition: If you fiddle with an object, you keep moving it or touching it with your fingers . Second fiddle definition, a secondary role: to play second fiddle to another person. This term alludes to the part of second violin in an orchestra. We … ; 2011, Dece, Felicity Cloake, How to cook the perfect nut roast, Guardian: ‘Playing in Chelsea's reserves isn't conditioning Parker to be an England international as he plays second fiddle to an expensive import.’ ‘However to the credit of all the players they upped the level of their performance several notches on the turnover and for lengthy second half spells had Wexford playing second fiddle.’ I'm tired of playing second fiddle to you. Synonyms for play second fiddle include obey, follow, observe, comply with, mind, abide by, accept, adhere to, keep and submit. Both, To play a subsidiary role to someone, particularly to one’s immediate superior. The notion that 'play second fiddle' derives from the roles within an orchestra is what anyone might guess to be the case. It is one of the most commonly used expressions in English writings. Play second fiddle Definition from Language, Idioms & Slang Dictionaries & Glossaries. What does second-fiddle mean? ‘she is tired of playing second fiddle to her thoughtless friend’. Here you use the synonyms for play second fiddle. The expression play second fiddle is derived from the way a musical orchestra is organized. Second Fiddle is a 1957 British comedy film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Adrienne Corri, Thorley Walters, Lisa Gastoni and Richard Wattis.The film was produced by Robert Dunbar for Act Films Ltd. What's the origin of the phrase 'Play second fiddle'? play second fiddle definition in English dictionary, play second fiddle meaning, synonyms, see also 'chronicle play',double play',fair play',foul play'. second fiddle (plural second fiddles) A fiddle part in harmony to the first fiddleThe second fiddle on that tune is almost as hard as the first fiddle. ‘the story line plays second fiddle to the action’. Play second fiddle definition at Dictionary.com, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. Second-fiddle meaning Second fiddle is a role played by an assistant or second-in-command to someone else. play second fiddle : to have a less important position or status than someone or something else : to be regarded or treated as less important a former star athlete who is not happy to play second fiddle as he nears the end of his career A violin, especially one used to play folk or country music. Meaning of second fiddle. It just means taking a "backseat" to someone or something. Definition of fiddle in the Idioms Dictionary. ‘Playing in Chelsea's reserves isn't conditioning Parker to be an England international as he plays second fiddle to an expensive import.’ ‘However to the credit of all the players they upped the level of their performance several notches on the turnover and for lengthy second half spells had Wexford playing second fiddle.’ fiddle phrase. While musicians might argue that in orchestras and chamber ensembles the part of second violin is just as important as that of first violin, this term, when transferred to other enterprises, definitely denigrates the second, at least in relation to the first. We can say with certainty how the expression 'play second fiddle' derived; what isn't so clear is precisely when and where. ♦ play second fiddle phrase V inflects, oft PHR to n She hated the thought of playing second fiddle to Rose. 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