second banana
noun
: a comedian who plays a supporting role to a top banana
broadly
: a person in a subservient position
Examples of second banana in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
First introduced in the ’60s, the Teen Titans are a group of superpowered young ‘uns traditionally led by Batman’s second banana Robin, fighting alongside heroes like Cyborg, Raven, Starfire and Beast Boy.
—
J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024
Just as Lone Ranger needed Tonto, so many pop culture icons wouldn't have half their appeal without these top-notch second bananas — see why Chewbacca, Turtle, Willow, and more made the cut.
—Ew Staff Updated, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024
The show was built around Vaughn’s debonair American agent, Napoleon Solo, with Mr. McCallum’s character initially envisioned as little more than a cerebral second banana from the Soviet Union.
—Frances Vinall, Washington Post, 26 Sep. 2023
Trump himself has reveled in the notion that his Republican rivals are motivated by nothing more than the dream of being his second banana during a MAGA restoration.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 11 Sep. 2023
Reavis 3-0 (NR) Junior midfielder Diego Ochoa is the perfect second banana to Ahmed Dhalai.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2023
As many as eight candidates will vie for the enviable role of second banana to Donald Trump and the right to be pummeled into submission by the former president, at least for the next month or so.
—Gerard Baker, WSJ, 21 Aug. 2023
Gerwig pointed out in the article that Ken’s second banana status is sort of like the Bible in reverse.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 24 May 2023
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
J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024
Just as Lone Ranger needed Tonto, so many pop culture icons wouldn't have half their appeal without these top-notch second bananas — see why Chewbacca, Turtle, Willow, and more made the cut.
—Ew Staff Updated, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024
The show was built around Vaughn’s debonair American agent, Napoleon Solo, with Mr. McCallum’s character initially envisioned as little more than a cerebral second banana from the Soviet Union.
—Frances Vinall, Washington Post, 26 Sep. 2023
Trump himself has reveled in the notion that his Republican rivals are motivated by nothing more than the dream of being his second banana during a MAGA restoration.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 11 Sep. 2023
Reavis 3-0 (NR) Junior midfielder Diego Ochoa is the perfect second banana to Ahmed Dhalai.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2023
As many as eight candidates will vie for the enviable role of second banana to Donald Trump and the right to be pummeled into submission by the former president, at least for the next month or so.
—Gerard Baker, WSJ, 21 Aug. 2023
Gerwig pointed out in the article that Ken’s second banana status is sort of like the Bible in reverse.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 24 May 2023
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
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.
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Cite this Entry
“Second banana.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second%20banana. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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