take second place
take second place
1. Literally, to finish behind one other person in a competition, contest, or election. I know you're disappointed, but you still took second place—that's pretty darn good for a statewide tournament!
2. By extension, to be considered less important or exceptional than someone or something else. I really love writing, but it had to take second place to my day job once we had kids. Despite the huge marketing push, the new smartphone has taken second place to the in the eyes of consumers.
See also: place, second, take
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
take second place
COMMON If one thing or person takes second place to another, the first thing or person is considered to be less important and is given less attention than the second. My personal life has had to take second place to my career. She was married to Ben Nicholson for years, and nobody ever saw her as taking second place.
See also: place, second, take
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
- literally
- Chinaman
- (one) must have killed a Chinaman
- beat the pants off
- beat the pants off (of) (someone)
- beat the pants off someone
- beat the socks off (of) (someone)
- beat the tar out of (one)
- beat the hell out of
- beat the living daylights out of someone