second fiddle

second fiddle

 
noun
1.
a secondary role: to play second fiddle to another person.
2.
a person serving in a subsidiary capacity, especially to one immediately superior.
Flatt & Scruggs Fiddlers www.acutab.com/ Ron Stewart shows 11 classic fiddle solos from the F&S recordings.
Ad
Origin:
1825–35
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To second fiddle

00:10

00:09

00:08

00:07

00:06

00:05

00:04

00:03

00:02

00:01

Second fiddle is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Collins
World English Dictionary
second fiddle
 
—n
1.  a.  the second violin in a string quartet or one of the second violins in an orchestra
 b.  the musical part assigned to such an instrument
2.  a secondary status
3.  a person who has a secondary status

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

second fiddle definition


  1. n.
    a person in a secondary role; the second best. (Frequently with play.) : I won't stay around here playing second fiddle for someone half my age and ability!
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

second fiddle

see play second fiddle.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriThesaurus
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT