second banana

Noun

Meaning

someone who serves in a subordinate capacity or plays a secondary role

a performer who acts as stooge to a comedian

Source: WordNet

second-banana

second fiddle straight man second assistant deputy minion junior substitute subordinate chorus understudy aide sidekick second-rater junior varsity

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lord manager householder proprietress host leader

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subordinate performer subsidiary foot soldier underling performing artist

second fiddle top banana

Norse myths tend to play second banana to Greek myths, but they’re everywhere—if you know where to look. Source: Internet

We can take this to mean that Howard wants a team of his own, where he has to play second banana to no one. Source: Internet