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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

second fiddle en · NOUN

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. A fiddle part in harmony to the first fiddle.
    • The second fiddle on that tune is almost as hard as the first fiddle.
  2. The person playing second fiddle.
    • I've been second fiddle in that orchestra for ten years now.
  3. (idiomatic) A sidekick or subordinate, or the role of such a person.
    • I'm tired of being your second fiddle!
    • Listen, buttercup, you're damned good in bed. They don't come any better, but I'm really not interested in playing second fiddle to your camera or your young lovers. 1987, Joyce Brandon, Lady and the Lawman, page 346:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
second fiddles Number=Plur lexicographic

Relateds

second violin · play second fiddle · first fiddle · second banana · lead fiddle · fiddle

Translations (23)

ru втора́я скри́пка (sidekick or subordinate; the role of such a person) · pl drugie skrzypce (music: person playing second fiddle) · la secundae (sidekick or subordinate; the role of such a person) · ru втора́я скри́пка (music: person playing second fiddle) · fr second violon (music: person playing second fiddle) · pl drugie skrzypce (music: fiddle part in harmony to the first fiddle) · nb andrefiolin (sidekick or subordinate; the role of such a person) · no andrefiolin (music: person playing second fiddle) · no andrefiolin (music: fiddle part in harmony to the first fiddle) · pl przydupas (sidekick or subordinate; the role of such a person) · no annenfiolin (music: person playing second fiddle) · ru втора́я скри́пка (music: fiddle part in harmony to the first fiddle) · fr second violon (music: fiddle part in harmony to the first fiddle) · it secondo violino (music: person playing second fiddle) · it secondo violino (music: fiddle part in harmony to the first fiddle) · fi toinen viulu (music: fiddle part in harmony to the first fiddle) · fr second couteau (sidekick or subordinate; the role of such a person) · no annenfiolin (music: fiddle part in harmony to the first fiddle) · fi apuri (sidekick or subordinate; the role of such a person) · fi toinen viulu (music: person playing second fiddle) · nb annenfiolin (sidekick or subordinate; the role of such a person) · it spalla (sidekick or subordinate; the role of such a person) · ru вто́ра (music: fiddle part in harmony to the first fiddle)