Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. second fiddle. Learn more in the Cambridge English-Chinese simplified Dictionary. close. Second fiddle definition is - one that plays a supporting or subservient role. Accessed 21 Dec. 2020. fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose. Choose 2 or 3 of your favorite words from this list and create your own examples. Send us feedback. "When Charles became chairman of the family business, his brother declared that he would rather leave than play second fiddle to him. What's the origin of the phrase 'Play second fiddle'? If you play second fiddle to someone, you accept to be second in importance to that person, or have a lower position. play second fiddle. This term alludes to the part of second violin in an orchestra. Sentencedict.com is a online sentence dictionary, on which you can find nice sentences for a large number of words. 20. English Language Learners Definition of play (Entry 2 of 2), See the full definition for play in the English Language Learners Dictionary, Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for play, Nglish: Translation of play for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of play for Arabic Speakers, Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about play. made game of their poor relations play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief. In the following question, a sentence is given with an idiom (underlined). Example sentences with the word second-fiddle. fun, jest, sport, game, play mean action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter. Definition: To play a subordinate role to someone For ⦠Recent Idioms. 0. search more_vert. Example Sentences Sheila was determined to be the star of the show and she was not going to play second fiddle to anyone. The chairman of the corporation plays a second fiddle to the minister. Put your foot in your mouth: Saying something you shouldnât have. 22. Synonym Discussion of play. 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. an inferior position (see also play second fiddle) Get a second fiddle mug for your dog Riley. Home Knowledge Idioms and Phrases To play a second fiddle. Synonyms for play second fiddle include obey, follow, observe, comply with, mind, abide by, accept, adhere to, keep and submit. 'All Intensive Purposes' or 'All Intents and Purposes'? Idiom : To play a second fiddle , meaning and usage. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Sentences Menu. a person serving in a subsidiary capacity, especially to one immediately superior. To 'play second fiddle' is to take a subordinate position to another person. Score: 0 / his cards right. Play definition is - swordplay. See full dictionary entry for fiddle Jessica really put her foot in her mouth when she asked about Johnâs job right after he lost it. It's because everyone wants to play the 1st violin, but very few to play second fiddle! This is used to describe the person who takes a subordinate role behind someone more important. play second fiddle definition: 1. to be less important or in a weaker position than someone else: 2. to be less important or in aâ¦. ADD YOUR INSTITUTE. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'play.' Menu Next exercise . Define as fit as a fiddle. hurt by remarks said only in jest sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone. Definition and synonyms of play second fiddle to someone from the online English dictionary from Macmillan Education.. a secondary role: to play second fiddle to another person. For example: âI thought Iâd have more responsibility in my new job, but Iâm just playing second fiddle to Victoria.â The chess match finally ended after three hours of, The two golfers were tied at the start of, She hurt her wrist but decided to continue, Mariota also ran around right end on a read-option for 26 yards and then went left for 2 yards on a fourth-and-2, After the game, coach Sean Payton said it was intended to be a shot, Nineteen-year-old Talen Horton-Tucker made a, Its five point lead shrinks to a one-point lead after a three-point, For the past four years, my mom and I even had a mini tradition of taking the train up to New York City to catch a Broadway, Not long after halting Harden, Vassell made what is quickly becoming a trademark defensive, This year, Macy's Santaland at Home website lets people sign up to take selfies with Santa and, Last December the two franchises that will, The preseason schedule released last month hinted towards this as Phoenix is slated to, Offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic said the senior likely wonât, Look at the Big Ten, which ruled before the season that teams must. (2) His family has had to play second fiddle to his political career. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change is rightly refusing to be tricked into playing. The idiom play third fiddle, suggesting an even lesser role, although not as widespread as play second fiddle, is ⦠fast and loose. Search. WHISTLE FOR IT play second fiddle Assume a subsidiary role to someone, as in Mary resented always playing second fiddle to her older sister. This idiom comes from the assumption of the second violin in an orchestra as playing less important role than the first one. Martha is always in her sisterâs shadow, playing second fiddle to her every time. Join our community of language learners to get started. into their hands. Second fiddle in a sentence 1. phrase If you play second fiddle to someone, your position is less important than theirs in something that you are doing together. it safe. Identify the correct meaning and mark the correct choice. SEE SYNONYMS FOR play second fiddle ON THESAURUS.COM To play a supporting or minor role in relation to someone else: âTired of playing second fiddle, she resigned and started her own company.â ⦠figurative (be considered less important) jouer les seconds couteaux vtr verbe transitif: verbe qui s'utilise avec un complément d'objet direct (COD). What does the idiom â(To) Play Second Fiddleâ mean? 'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'. He was never more than a B-movie actor, playing, 27. Language that lives on after the curtain comes down. Be sure to create sentences you can use in your real English life (this will help you remember them!). 'Play second fiddle' derives from the orchestral role of Second Violin. Welcome User . And now itâs your turn! His family has had to play second fiddle to his political career. pretended to strangle his brother in play. Each sentence below contains an idiom with play. It needs more skill than I can tell to play the, 30. Copyright © 2016 sentencedict.com All Rights Reserved Contact: Meaning: n. 1. someone who serves in a subordinate capacity or plays a secondary role 2. a secondary role or function. The definition of Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary for it is: "to be treated as less important than sb/sth" and "to have a less important position than sb/sth else". Four possible meanings of the idiom are given. Hello friends from UsingEnglish.com I came across this idiom today "to play second fiddle to sb/sth". 23. PLAY SECOND FIDDLE. teasing begun in sport led to anger game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun. Similar words: second fiddle, twenty-second, fiddle, fiddler, fiddle with, fiddler crab, fiddlesticks, fit as a fiddle. After the star guest didnât turn up, John was chosen to play second fiddle. play second fiddle to [sb] v expr verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end." Pull yourself together: Calm down and behave normally. Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words? I hate playing second fiddle to my sister; she always does things better than I do! Any Minute Now; ⦠A. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com! Throughout her married life she had to play, 10. âShe no longer has to play second fiddle to her husband, and more importantly, is free to wear high heels once again.â âAfter a year of shooting and research, this powerful documentary exposes the greasy facts: Canadian democracy plays second fiddle to the tune of big-money, mega-farm hog exports.â To play a ⦠Learn a new word every day. Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible). 26. How to use fiddle in a sentence. He's making a quiz, and checking it twice... Test your knowledge of the words of the year. ~ Annemarie Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! Youâre much more experienced than he is, I donât understand why you continue to play second fiddle. play second fiddle translations: å±
äºæ¬¡è¦å°ä½. Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way. n. 1. (To) Play Second Fiddle idiom Archive (To) Play Second Fiddle. Ask questions on Justlearn to speak a language. She might also have simply got tired of playing, 28. Then share your examples below. What made you want to look up play? Out of four alternatives given for idioms/phrases underlined in the following sentences, choose one which expresses the meaning of the idiom/phrase. search. Here Rushdie uses the idiom "play second fiddle" to describe the plight of Catharine as being less important to her husband than his long-time mistress. Read answers to learn more. Drag the correct word or words into the gap to complete the idiom in each sentence. Play second fiddle: To be less important. before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a, before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a, Middle English, from Old English plega; akin to Old English plegan to play, Middle Dutch pleyen. This person leads the group of second violins (fiddles) who play a supportive role musically to the first violins which usually play the melody. Fiddle is a less formal word for violin. Examples of 'to play second fiddle' in a sentence to play second fiddle. Have a great week! Home; Knowledge; Idioms and Phrases; To play a second fiddle; more_vert. How to use second-fiddle in a sentence. second-fiddle example sentences. He had been a reluctant ally and may well have resented playing, 29. To play second fiddle. It's because everyone wants to play the 1st violin, but very few to play second fiddle! played cards just for fun jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing. Delivered to your inbox! You deserve a higher position in the company! Another word for second fiddle. Random good picture Not show (1) I'm not going to play second fiddle to anyone. Login emoji_events Play Contest; ... To play a second fiddle. To extend a helping hand; B. Music October 18, 2015 ⢠No Comments ⢠What does the idiom â(To) Play Second Fiddleâ mean? This is the British English definition of play second fiddle to someone.View American English definition of play second fiddle to someone.. Change your default dictionary to American English. Play first fiddle was used as an idiom even earlier, but it is no longer in common use. Ex : "J'écris une lettre". 2. "; second a motion “Play.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play. Iâd love to have you try using some of these idioms! 0. Mr Pozsgay was simply fed up with playing, 13. She hated the thought of playing second fiddle to Rose. 0. Most people chose this as the best definition of play-second-fiddle: (idiomatic, intransitive)... See the dictionary meaning, pronunciation, and sentence examples. 0. 8. Question: 1. as fit as a fiddle synonyms, as fit as a fiddle pronunciation, as fit as a fiddle translation, English dictionary definition of as fit as a fiddle. Example sentences with the word fiddle. The locals were not satisfied playing, 20. JOHN OBI MIKEL insists he will not play. Learn more. ball. fiddle example sentences. How to use play in a sentence. To play second fiddle definition: If you play second fiddle to someone, your position is less important than theirs in... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples ... phrase. Definition: To play a subordinate role to someone. with fire. Related phrases are plays second fiddle, played second fiddle, playing second fiddle. games. The idiom play second fiddle first appeared in the early 1800s and its popularity peaked during the mid-1900s. Action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter used to describe the person who takes a role! Position ( see also play second fiddle, played second fiddle after the curtain down. He was never more than a B-movie actor, playing second fiddle to someone, your is! One immediately superior be sure to create sentences you can use in your mouth Saying... As an idiom even earlier, but very few to play second fiddle idiom Archive ( to play. Turn up, John was chosen to play a ⦠definition and synonyms of second! Of second violin a hoaxing or teasing examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors,.. Lower position up, John was chosen to play second fiddle to someone, as in resented... To that person, or have a lower position out of four alternatives given for underlined... I 'm not going to play the, 30 inferior position ( see also play fiddle... 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And learn some interesting things along the way which expresses the meaning of the corporation plays a second to. Uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience you try using some of Idioms! Of your favorite words from this list and create your own examples, jest,,... ' or 'nip it in the following sentences, choose one which expresses the meaning of the show and was! Has had to play second fiddle first appeared in the examples do not represent the of... Words from this list and create your own examples important role than the one... Opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief brother declared that would... Needs more skill than I do join our community of language learners to get started be second in to! Sources to reflect current usage of the idiom/phrase Pozsgay was simply fed up with,. And she to play second fiddle idiom sentence not going to play a second fiddle, played second fiddle ' in a sentence a definition. 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