take a back seat
Meaning
To become less important or active; to let someone/something else be the priority.
Origin
From the literal idea of sitting in the back seat of a vehicle, where youโre not driving or directing. It became a metaphor for yielding control or importance to someone else.
Notes
Often implies yielding control or priority, voluntarily or because circumstances force it. Common in everyday and business contexts; slightly informal.
Examples
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In that meeting, I decided to take a back seat and let the managers lead.
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After the baby arrived, travel plans had to take a back seat for a while.
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During the final stretch, she took a back seat to her coachโs instructions.
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It seems like your career has taken a back seat to family this year.
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As the debate got heated, he took a back seat and listened to everyone first.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used as โtake a back seat (to X)โ or โtake the back seat.โ Can be inflected (took/has taken). Often followed by โtoโ when indicating what becomes the priority.
Synonyms
- step aside
- play second fiddle
- yield
- be secondary
- take a secondary role
Antonyms
- take the lead
- take center stage
- take charge
- take precedence