How to Use second banana in a Sentence

second banana

noun
  • The First Amendment, in other words, was the second banana.
    Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 13 May 2022
  • But Sanchez is one hell of a second banana, and a huge reason why the Yankees are on the verge of just their second playoff berth in five years.
    SI.com, 11 Sep. 2017
  • But the future and present are colliding into a world in which fans get a sneak peek at what Porter can do as the second banana on a playoff team.
    Tom Rende, Forbes, 1 June 2021
  • He was also obsessed with playing second banana to The Times, as the movie indicates.
    Sam Roberts, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2017
  • Like his character, Mr. Boseman is the star of this show, while Mr. Gad is the second banana and often comic relief.
    Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2017
  • They sort of get relegated to second banana status, given the film’s point of view.
    Jack Greiner, Cincinnati.com, 25 Jan. 2018
  • The endless spins of the wheel as the media play Veepstakes Roulette obscure certain lasting truths surrounding the search for a second banana.
    Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 27 Apr. 2020
  • But the Joker has never been one to play second banana, and any mastermind who leaves him out of their grand plans usually ends up paying the price.
    Christian Holub, EW.com, 12 July 2019
  • Lourd, an appealing comedian/second banana, gets to crack wise and drink gallons of booze, but not in that order.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2022
  • Some neurons fired when animals saw a second banana or second image of trees.
    Adam Piore, Discover Magazine, 31 Aug. 2016
  • The second banana, of course, was Father Guido Sarducci.
    Andy Hoglund, Vulture, 1 Feb. 2022
  • Van Dam, a bumbling, subservient second banana who had occasional moments of pathos, was a reliable source of laughs on the show, which ran until 1997.
    Daniel E. Slotnik, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2018
  • Brad Pitt, meanwhile, gives a pained but amusing performance as second banana Cliff Booth, Dalton’s former stuntman who now mostly just drives him around and cares for his house.
    Travis M. Andrews, Washington Post, 30 July 2019
  • Without their former second banana, the Cavs trail Indiana, 2-1.
    Bill Livingston, cleveland.com, 21 Apr. 2018
  • Russell Westbrook got traded to become his former sixth man’s second banana.
    Rohan Nadkarni, SI.com, 14 Aug. 2019
  • Derrick Henry was an effective second banana, picking up 54 yards on 13 totes.
    Michael Beller, SI.com, 25 Sep. 2017
  • What audiences respond to in them is the interplay of Adam Sandler, as a grump with a chip on his shoulder but an even larger sense of loyalty, and Jennifer Aniston, as a sweetheart who is done being life’s second banana.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 31 Mar. 2023
  • Caribbean beaches are justifiably world famous, but the region’s resort pools are no second banana.
    Melanie Reffes, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2018

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'second banana.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: