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
NewsweekThat'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 toPhil TaylorPhysically and emotionally, these guys take a back seat to no one.—Mark Vancil
Mark VancilExamples of take a back seat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The effortless and beachy hairstyle has taken a back seat in recent years to more polished styles like sleek bobs, liquid hair, and voluminous blowouts.
—Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 18 Apr. 2025
But on this night at Ball Arena, a win Denver needed took a back seat Jokić being available for the first time in five games, and the rotation began a game intact for the first time since March 14 against the Los Angeles Lakers.
—Tony Jones, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
His promising early baseball career took a back seat in 1943 when he was taken into the Navy and served as a radio operator on the USS Coral Sea during World War II.
—Daniel Brown, The Athletic, 9 Mar. 2025
Much like those fairs, the Expo promised flying cars (this time courtesy of Uber), but the pretense of scientific innovation had taken a back seat to what was really on offer: tourism, tax breaks, and investment opportunities.
—Harper's Magazine, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take a back seat
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Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 18 Apr. 2025
But on this night at Ball Arena, a win Denver needed took a back seat Jokić being available for the first time in five games, and the rotation began a game intact for the first time since March 14 against the Los Angeles Lakers.
—Tony Jones, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
His promising early baseball career took a back seat in 1943 when he was taken into the Navy and served as a radio operator on the USS Coral Sea during World War II.
—Daniel Brown, The Athletic, 9 Mar. 2025
Much like those fairs, the Expo promised flying cars (this time courtesy of Uber), but the pretense of scientific innovation had taken a back seat to what was really on offer: tourism, tax breaks, and investment opportunities.
—Harper's Magazine, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take a back seat
Cite this Entry
“Take a back seat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20a%20back%20seat. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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