as in top banana
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Recent Examples of second banana
Riley emerges as an extremely realistic teenage character, one who probably deserves better than being the second banana to a bunch of muppety emotions.
—
Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 14 June 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for second banana
Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 14 June 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for second banana
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second banana
Noun
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In Planet of the Apes and for some reason Better Man, these apes are first on the call sheet, Chimps in a Leading Role, top banana.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
15 Jan. 2025
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So which restaurant did Yelp readers declare top banana?—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
21 June 2022
Noun
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Bernabe caught the attention of Twitter gagman and Banana Capital founder Turner Novak, who’s made a name for himself by entwining industry analysis with creative memes on social media.—
Nina Wolpow,
Forbes,
23 Sep. 2021
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Indeed, many New Yorker artists once relied on gagmen.—
Thomas Vinciguerra,
WSJ,
16 Nov. 2018
Noun
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After a 28-city international leg that included London’s O2 and Dublin’s 3Arena, stand-up comedian, actor and writer Shane Gillis announced the extension of his Shane Gillis Live tour to 10 additional U.S. cities on Tuesday (May 13).—
Frank DiGiacomo,
Billboard,
13 May 2025
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The film, from British ventriloquist and comedian Nina Conti, will debut in New York City in theaters on June 6 with an L.A. premiere following a week later (June 13).—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
13 May 2025
Noun
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When it was all said and done and Yorkie gave one final wag of her tail, she was revealed to be Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, singer, and actress Erika Jayne.—
Lauren Huff,
EW.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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The direction of the wag matters, too—research suggests that dogs tend to wag more to the right when feeling positive and to the left when experiencing negative emotions.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The prize, which is named to honor one of the world’s greatest humorists, was awarded at a gala performance on March 23 at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall and featured some of the biggest names in comedy, including David Letterman, Sarah Silverman, and John Mulaney who celebrated O’Brien.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2025
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The supergroup of sorts counts among its members such literary luminaries as Stephen King, Mitch Albom and Hiaasen’s friend and former Herald humorist, Dave Barry.—
Greg Carannante,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
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And just when things might start to lag, Pierce arrives, nailing every pun, every aside to the audience, every double-take and every droll observation.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2025
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But unlike that 1996 Robert Rodriguez-Quentin Tarantino joint, Sinners isn’t winking at the audience from behind grotesque violence and droll B-movie tropes.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Second banana.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second%20banana. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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