play second fiddle to something

play second fiddle to something
play second fiddle (to (someone/something)) to be in a less important position than someone or something else.

Radio has been playing second fiddle to television for decades now.

Usage notes: sometimes used without play
Etymology: based on the literal meaning of second fiddle (= the lower part for a violin, a musical instrument with strings)

New idioms dictionary. 2014.

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  • play second fiddle (to something) — play second ˈfiddle (to sb/sth) idiom to be treated as less important than sb/sth; to have a less important position than sb/sth else • I m not going to play second fiddle to anyone. • The narrative in this book plays second fiddle to the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • play second fiddle to someone — play second fiddle (to (someone/something)) to be in a less important position than someone or something else. Radio has been playing second fiddle to television for decades now. Usage notes: sometimes used without play Etymology: based on the… …   New idioms dictionary

  • play second fiddle to — play second fiddle (to (someone/something)) to be in a less important position than someone or something else. Radio has been playing second fiddle to television for decades now. Usage notes: sometimes used without play Etymology: based on the… …   New idioms dictionary

  • play second fiddle — (to (someone/something)) to be in a less important position than someone or something else. Radio has been playing second fiddle to television for decades now. Usage notes: sometimes used without play Etymology: based on the literal meaning of… …   New idioms dictionary

  • 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 often + to He s not happy to …   Useful english dictionary

  • play second fiddle to — take a subordinate role to someone or something in a way often considered demeaning she had to play second fiddle to the interests of her husband …   Useful english dictionary

  • play second fiddle — verb To play a subsidiary or subordinate role to someone or something else. I think the VP got tired of playing second fiddle to the president, so if shes not promoted soon, she might leave …   Wiktionary

  • fiddle — fid‧dle [ˈfɪdl] verb [transitive] informal to give false information about something in order to avoid paying money, or to get extra money: • It would be naive to think that staff never fiddle their expenses. • Auditors ensure that employers or… …   Financial and business terms

  • fiddle — ► NOUN 1) informal a violin. 2) informal, chiefly Brit. an act of fraud or cheating. 3) informal an unnecessarily intricate or awkward task. ► VERB informal 1) touch or fidget with something restlessly or nervously. 2) chiefly Brit. falsify… …   English terms dictionary

  • play — play1 W1S1 [pleı] v ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(children)¦ 2¦(sports/games)¦ 3¦(music)¦ 4¦(radio/cd etc)¦ 5¦(theatre/film)¦ 6 play a part/role 7 play ball 8¦(pretend)¦ 9¦(behave)¦ 10 play games …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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