What is the meaning and origin of ‘to play second fiddle’?
(R. Venkateswaran, Madurai)
When you play second fiddle to someone, you are taking a back seat to that person; you are in a subordinate position to the individual. The idiom can also be used to mean ‘second rate’ or ‘second best’.
* I’m sure Gopa is sick and tired of playing second fiddle to Thara.
The expression comes from the world of western music. The ‘fiddle’ here refers to the violin. I understand in an orchestra, violinists and other musicians are often categorised into classes: first, second, third, etc. According to some people, although the second violin is much more difficult to play, it is the first violin which plays a dominant role in the orchestra. The second fiddle or violin ends up taking a back seat.
S. UPENDRAN
upendrankye@gmail.com
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