This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Enrich your vocabulary with the English Definition … fiddle around in BRIT, also use fiddle about 1 phrasal verb If you fiddle around or fiddle about with a machine, you do things to it to try and make it work. Play definition is - swordplay. It is one of the most commonly used expressions in English writings. 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. Enrich your vocabulary with the English Definition … 2. A violin, especially one used to play folk or country music. Learn more. ‘she is tired of playing second fiddle to her thoughtless friend’. an inferior position (see also play second fiddle) Get a second fiddle mug for your dog Riley. Play Second Fiddle is an idiom. The idiom play second fiddle dates from the 1800s. The expression 'play second fiddle' had its heyday in the middle of the 20th century and is now used less and less. It just means taking a "backseat" to someone or something. I’m writing to you to get your opinion on the situation I have going on with my boyfriend. 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. What does second-fiddle mean? The fiddle was used from the eighth to the mid-14th century in Western Europe by itinerant musicians. Synonyms for 'play second fiddle to someone': weaken, fade, lessen, wane, not amount to much/a great deal, make no/little difference, mean nothing Play second fiddle definition at Dictionary.com, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. Learn more. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. The first example I can find of the phrase 'play second fiddle' in print is from the English newspaper The Morning Post, September 1801: Storace and Braham are gone to Bath, dis- gusted, it is said, to find that, after being engaged to oppose Mrs. Billington, they are now to play second fiddle to her and Incledon. The expression 'play second fiddle' had its heyday in the middle of the 20th century and is now used less and less. fiddle 1. a violin played as a folk instrument 2. Meaning: A secondary role or function. Another word for second fiddle. Play second fiddle definition To play a supporting or minor role in relation to someone else: “Tired of playing second fiddle, she resigned and started her own company.” In an orchestra, the position of second violinist (fiddle) is not as glamorous as that of first violinist. ‘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.’ It was the final film of prolific director Maurice Elvey. play second fiddle to take a subordinate role to someone or something. Meaning of play second fiddle. Ask Lisa: I am playing second fiddle in my relationship. playing second fiddle. (n) Informal person who plays a second part. It has been so used since about 1800. Meaning of Idiom 'Play Second Fiddle' To play second fiddle to someone is to be subordinate to them; to be of lesser importance. A sidekick or subordinate, or the role of such a personI'm tired of being your second fiddle!. Second Fiddle stands for (idiomatic) A sidekick or subordinate, or … A single slice of this could leave you supine in front of the Queen's speech without even the wherewithal to reach for the remote control. To 'play second fiddle' is to take a subordinate position to another person. Because I wasn't willing to play office politics, I never got the big promotion and have been playing second fiddle ever since. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com! play second fiddle (English)Origin & history From the second violin in an orchestra. It is one of the most commonly used expressions in English writings. Definition of play second fiddle in the Definitions.net dictionary. Meaning of play second fiddle. To play second fiddle means to take a subordinate role, to be subservient to someone or to take a supporting role rather than the most important or starring role in a situation. play second fiddle meaning: 1. to be less important or in a weaker position than someone else: 2. to be less important or in a…. A secondary role. Usage "I've been with this company twenty years. This person leads the group of second violins (fiddles) who play a supportive role musically to the first violins which usually play the melody. BY DEFINITION, they don’t take centre stage. Lisa Brookes Kift, MFT. : one that plays a supporting or subservient role. What does play second fiddle mean? So here we salute a selection from TV’s current crop of support acts, shining examples of the art of playing second 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. 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