Verb
play second fiddle (third-person singular simple present plays second fiddle, present participle playing second fiddle, simple past and past participle played second fiddle)
(idiomatic, intransitive) To play a subsidiary or subordinate role to someone or something else.
It seems like a foregone conclusion that Cole Caufield will lead the team and the conference in scoring this season, but who will play second fiddle? Source: Internet
Europe demonstrated unity in Sofia and sent a strong message to the US: We won't play second fiddle in global politics. Source: Internet
The food is tasty, or rather better than you expect it to be considering this is more of a supper club where the cuisine might normally play second fiddle to the various cocktail concoctions. Source: Internet
The full-time kid you birthed may even play second fiddle to the part-time stepkid you love. Source: Internet
In earlier times Mahinda was quite content to play second fiddle to Anura Bandaranaike and then Chandrika Kumaratunga. Source: Internet
Initially she went along with these organisations but soon it became apparent that Ananthy had an independent agenda and would not play second fiddle to another. Source: Internet