Meanings
plural second fiddles
- entertainmentA fiddle part in harmony to the first fiddle.
The second fiddle on that tune is almost as hard as the first fiddle.
- entertainmentThe person playing second fiddle.
I've been second fiddle in that orchestra for ten years now.
- idiomaticA sidekick or subordinate, or the role of such a person.
I'm tired of being your second fiddle!
1 more example
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
Synonyms & antonyms
nounsomeone who serves in a subordinate capacity or plays a secondary role
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Translations
Finnish toinen viulu, toinen viulu
- toinen viulumusic: fiddle part in harmony to the first fiddle
- toinen viulumusic: person playing second fiddle
- apurisidekick or subordinate; the role of such a person
French second violon, second violon
- second violonmusic: fiddle part in harmony to the first fiddle
- second violonmusic: person playing second fiddle
- second couteausidekick or subordinate; the role of such a person
Italian secondo violino, secondo violino
- secondo violinomusic: fiddle part in harmony to the first fiddle
- secondo violinomusic: person playing second fiddle
- spallasidekick or subordinate; the role of such a person
Latin secundae
- secundaesidekick or subordinate; the role of such a person
Norwegian annenfiolin, andrefiolin
- annenfiolinmusic: fiddle part in harmony to the first fiddle
- andrefiolinmusic: fiddle part in harmony to the first fiddle
- annenfiolinmusic: person playing second fiddle
- andrefiolinmusic: person playing second fiddle
Norwegian Bokmål annenfiolin, andrefiolin
- annenfiolinsidekick or subordinate; the role of such a person
- andrefiolinsidekick or subordinate; the role of such a person
Polish drugie skrzypce, drugie skrzypce
- drugie skrzypcemusic: fiddle part in harmony to the first fiddle
- drugie skrzypcemusic: person playing second fiddle
- przydupassidekick or subordinate; the role of such a person
Russian втора́я скри́пка, вто́ра
- втора́я скри́пка (vtorája skrípka)music: fiddle part in harmony to the first fiddle
- вто́ра (vtóra)music: fiddle part in harmony to the first fiddle
- втора́я скри́пка (vtorája skrípka)music: person playing second fiddle
- втора́я скри́пка (vtorája skrípka)sidekick or subordinate; the role of such a person
Cite this entry
second fiddle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/second%20fiddle
“second fiddle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/second%20fiddle. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “second fiddle,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/second%20fiddle.
Source: second fiddle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.