bridesmaid

always the bridesmaid, never the bride

Said of one who is never the most important person in a particular situation or the winner of some particular thing. When will I get a promotion? I'm so sick of being always the bridesmaid, never the bride. This is the fifth time I've come in second place—always the bridesmaid, never the bride.
See also: always, bride, never
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

always the bridesmaid

If someone is always the bridesmaid, they are always the second most successful or important person in a situation and never the most successful or important. Ian McEwan, favourite for every literary prize from the Booker to the Whitbread but always the bridesmaid, finally won something for `Atonement'. Note: People sometimes use the full expression always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Her win in this race helped to destroy the idea that she is always the bridesmaid, never the bride.
See also: always, bridesmaid
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

always the bridesmaid

used to refer pityingly to someone who seems always to be allocated to a subsidiary function, and is never invited to take the lead.
The expression probably originated in the words of a 1917 song by Charles Collins , Fred W. Leigh , and Lily Morris : ‘Why am I always the bridesmaid, never the blushing bride?’.
See also: always, bridesmaid
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • always the bridesmaid
  • always the bridesmaid, never the bride
  • bride
  • remember (someone or something) as (something)
  • remember as
  • come across like
  • come across like (someone or something)
  • close the books
  • come across as (something) to (one)
  • (one) ain't particular
References in periodicals archive
Under this situation, a lot of brands have been launched up, providing affordable bridesmaid dresses to the girls who will be a bridesmaid.
BMbridal Has Just Released A Great Range Of Affordable Bridesmaid Dresses
"So she has stepped out of being my bridesmaid and I think she still thinks she gets to do all the bridesmaid fun with me and bachelorette fun....
Bridesmaid branded 'trashy' for picking racy dress to wear to sister's wedding; A woman has come under fire on social media for her unusual choice of bridesmaid dress for her sister's wedding
Yes, rise above it and handle it with grace because it's your friend's big day - not yours or the other bridesmaids'.
DREADING MY BEST MATE'S WEDDING DAY; DEAR COLEEN; Britain's most straight-talking problem page
Southwest agreed to fly the dress from Houston to Costa Rica and collected the it from the Houston Hobby airport after the bridesmaid friend handed it over to the airlines staff.
Airline flies bridesmaid's dress after she forgets it at home
In a statement, Kensington Palace revealed who the bridesmaids and page boys would be.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reveal Royal wedding bridesmaids and page boys; Kensington Palace revealed those who will have important roles to play in the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Saturday, May 19
But if you see no way to get out of the debt you'd take on to be a bridesmaid, doing everything your friend wants might not be feasible right now.
Can't afford to be a bridesmaid? How to say no
"Not many bridesmaids could pull off the brief of rugby, cocktails and '80s while not knowing whether the bride would be able to walk that day or not.
Get me to the match on time
In the event that you are having an exquisite and refined wedding, it is best for the Cmdresses to settle on night outfit sort of garments, while shoreline weddings are less formal and supplement a looser fit and style, for example, bind bridesmaid dresses.
Lady like Bridesmaid Dresses Of Cmdresses
There are friendship issues along the way but Tilly's determination to be the best bridesmaid, make for a delightful tale of happy ever afters for the wedding couples.
Wilson, Jacqueline: Rent a Bridesmaid
Overland Park, KS, September 21, 2016 --(PR.com)-- Essense Designs wins another award for its internationally-acclaimed bridesmaid dress label, Sorella Vita, at the 2016 Bridal Buyer Awards held in North Yorkshire, England.
Essense Designs Awarded at 2016 Bridal Buyer Awards
RENT A BRIDESMAID BY JACQUELINE WILSON DOUBLEDAY, PS12.99 (EBOOK PS8.99) DON'T be fooled by the fuchsia pink cover sprinkled with glittery confetti on Jacqueline Wilson's latest book.
CHILDREN'S book of the week
RENT A BRIDESMAID by Jacqueline Wilson Doubleday, PS12.99 (ebook PS8.99) HHHH H DON'T be fooled by the fuchsia pink cover sprinkled with glittery confetti on Jacqueline Wilson's latest book.
CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK
That's what a young woman in her 20s discovered when she offered her services as a professional bridesmaid. Helping brides navigate choppy wedding waters has become a lucrative business.
Turning bridesmaid duties into a business
Ex-Inbetweeners star Emily told her followers: "SO excited & honoured to be a bridesmaid today for my wonderful friends @ MrkieronR & @carl_hyland ..
Hollyoaks TV star Kieron ties the knot
DEAR ANNIE: I think you missed the mark with "Disappointed,'' the frustrated bridesmaid. She said the bride ordered hideous dresses, and when the bridesmaids tried to get her to find another, she didn't like any of them.
Alcoholic son won't speak to mom, and it's making her miserable