take a back seat

idiomatic phrase

variants or take a backseat

: to have or assume a secondary position or status : to be or become less important, active, or powerful

Howard loved directing "more than I even thought I would," and his acting career has taken a back seat ever since.

—Newsweek

That's why Bryant's willingness to tone down his game is significant. It doesn't mean, however, that he's content to take a backseat indefinitely.

—Phil Taylor

—often used with to

Physically and emotionally, these guys take a back seat to no one.

—Mark Vancil

Examples of take a back seat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Gold and zinc deposits eventually took a back seat to Leadville’s dominant metal: silver. —James Dziezynski, Outside Online, 10 Nov. 2024

But as long as the determined business owner can pay their bills, accounting can, at least initially, take a back seat when a company is small. —Vlad Rusz, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

That primal, guttural competitiveness takes over, and sometimes, unfortunately, emotional intelligence takes a back seat. —Brendan Keegan, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2024

Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller has been at the center of Vance's debate practices, along with Usha Vance, Vance's wife, who has largely taken a back seat publicly on the campaign trail. —Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 1 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above