second fiddle
A fiddle part in harmony to the first fiddle.
The second fiddle on that tune is almost as hard as the first fiddle.
fiddle
/ˈfɪd(ə)l/
noun 5verb 5intj 1
Collocations
5ADJ.
burned, hard, left
VERB + FIDDLE
fit, going, let, manage, play, plays, tunes, won't
FIDDLE + NOUN
anyone, bluegrass, coffee, computer, klezmer, rome
PREP.
about, in, on, with
ADV.
actually
Definitions
noun
1
A violin, a small unfretted stringed instrument with four strings tuned (lowest to highest) G-D-A-E, usually held against the chin, shoulder, chest or on the upper thigh and played with a bow (see also usage notes below).
...Of harpe & of salteriun. of fiðele & of coriun...
Johnny, rosin up your bow and play your fiddle hard 'Cause Hell's broke loose in Georgia an' the Devil deals the cards...
2
Any of various other bowed stringed instruments, particularly those of the violin family when played non-classically.
The fiddle of these early times, however, was the viol and not our modern violin.
3
A violinist, or fiddler, in a band.
He is first fiddle in the band.
4
Something resembling a violin, or fiddle, in shape
5
Something resembling a violin, or fiddle, in shape
verb
1
To play the fiddle or violin, particularly in a folk or country style.
to fiddle while Rome burns
Themistocles […] said he could not fiddle, but yet he could make a small town a great city.
2
To fraudulently manipulate (records, accounts, etc.) in order to cheat or swindle.
Fred was sacked when the auditors caught him fiddling the books.
3
To fidget or play; to fuss; to idly amuse oneself, to act aimlessly, idly, or frivolously, particularly out of nervousness or restlessness; see also fiddle with.
Sit up straight and stop fiddling!
Loke you fydell nat with your handes whan your maister speketh to you.
4
Synonym of tinker (“to make small adjustments or improvements”); see also fiddle with.
I don't exactly know how to fix this lawnmower; I'm really just fiddling.
5
To do odd jobs for money.
A cake-seller told me that a little while before I saw him a lad of twelve or so had consumed a shilling’s worth of cakes and pastry, as he had got a shilling by “fiddling;” not, be it understood, by the exercise of any musical skill, for “fiddling,” among the initiated, means the holding of horses, or the performing of any odd jobs.
intj
1
Synonym of fiddlesticks or euphemism for fuck.
Oh, fiddle. I left my whip in the stable.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
noun — bowed stringed instrument that is the highest member of the
verb — try to fix or mend
Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
play second fiddle
To play a subsidiary or subordinate role to someone or something else.
She had been mistress of the farm so long that it would be hard for her to play second fiddle, but give her time and she'd be as good as new butter and as nice as ninepence, he sai
play someone like a fiddle
To play (manipulate) (a person) skillfully.
play first fiddle
To play a leading role.
fiddle while Rome burns
To neglect helping when one’s time is needed most; to ignore the major problem at hand (whilst doing something less important); to be idle, inactive, or uninterested in a time of great need.
Example Bank
601
...Of harpe & of salteriun. of fiðele & of coriun...
Wiktionary02
Johnny, rosin up your bow and play your fiddle hard 'Cause Hell's broke loose in Georgia an' the Devil deals the cards...
Wiktionary03
When I play it like this, it's a fiddle; when I play it like that, it's a violin.
Wiktionary04
to fiddle while Rome burns
Wiktionary05
Themistocles […] said he could not fiddle, but yet he could make a small town a great city.
Wiktionary06
Fred was sacked when the auditors caught him fiddling the books.
WiktionaryUsage Notes
i Register
In some senses, fiddle is marked as informal, obsolete, slang, UK. Watch for register when choosing this word.
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