Apedia

Play Fiddle Position Marianne She's Smart Follower Inferior

Idiom Play Second Fiddle
Example Why should Marianne play second fiddle to him? She's as smart as he is.
Meaning to be a follower; to be in an inferior position
Origin In an orchestra, there are the roles of first violin (or fiddle) and second fiddle. The person who plays "first violin" is supposed to be the most important musician in an orchestra. So, since at least the middle 1700s, when this saying was first used, "playing second fiddle" has meant to act the smaller part or be in a lower position rather than to be the leader.

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