take a backseat

1. To be given a lower priority. Unfortunately, I had the flu last week, so everything else around the house had to take a back seat.

2. To willingly take a less prominent role in some situation. I took a back seat during the presentation because I knew you could handle it.

take a backseat (to someone or something)

Fig. to become less important than someone or something else. My homework had to take a backseat to football during the playoffs. Jimmy always took a backseat to his older brother, Bill, until Bill went away to college.

take a back seat

Occupy an inferior position; allow another to be in control. For example, Linda was content to take a back seat and let Nancy run the meeting. This idiom uses back seat in contrast to the driver's seat, that is, the one in control. [Mid-1800s]

See also: back, seat, take

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

take a back seat

COMMON

1. If you take a back seat, you allow other people to have all the power, importance, or responsibility. I was happy to take a back seat and give someone else the opportunity to manage the project. I always used to take a back seat and let people get on with it.

2. If one thing takes a back seat to another, people give the first thing less attention because it is less important or interesting than the other thing. It is true that in the Apollo programme science took a back seat to technology and engineering. As the novel progresses, the war takes a back seat to the growing romance between Harvey and Martha.

See also: back, seat, take

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

take a back seat

take or be given a less important position or role. Compare with in the driver's seat (at driver).

See also: back, seat, take

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

take a back ˈseat

change to a less important role or function: After forty years in the business, it’s time for me to take a back seat and let someone younger take over. OPPOSITE: in the driving seat

See also: back, seat, take

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

take a backseat, to

To occupy an inferior or relatively obscure position. Equating the backseat of a vehicle with inferiority dates from mid-nineteenth century America. Max Beerbohm used the figure of speech in Around Theatres (1902): “He brought on a circus procession . . . and Oxford had to take a back seat.”

词组	take a backseat
释义	take a backseat take a backseat 1. To be given a lower priority. Unfortunately, I had the flu last week, so everything else around the house had to take a back seat. 2. To willingly take a less prominent role in some situation. I took a back seat during the presentation because I knew you could handle it. See also: backseat, take Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. take a backseat (to someone or something) Fig. to become less important than someone or something else. My homework had to take a backseat to football during the playoffs. Jimmy always took a backseat to his older brother, Bill, until Bill went away to college. See also: backseat, take McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. take a back seat Occupy an inferior position; allow another to be in control. For example, Linda was content to take a back seat and let Nancy run the meeting. This idiom uses back seat in contrast to the driver's seat, that is, the one in control. [Mid-1800s] See also: back, seat, take The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. take a back seat COMMON 1. If you take a back seat, you allow other people to have all the power, importance, or responsibility. I was happy to take a back seat and give someone else the opportunity to manage the project. I always used to take a back seat and let people get on with it. 2. If one thing takes a back seat to another, people give the first thing less attention because it is less important or interesting than the other thing. It is true that in the Apollo programme science took a back seat to technology and engineering. As the novel progresses, the war takes a back seat to the growing romance between Harvey and Martha. See also: back, seat, take Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. take a back seat take or be given a less important position or role. Compare with in the driver's seat (at driver). See also: back, seat, take Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary take a back ˈseat change to a less important role or function: After forty years in the business, it’s time for me to take a back seat and let someone younger take over. OPPOSITE: in the driving seat See also: back, seat, take Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary take a backseat, to To occupy an inferior or relatively obscure position. Equating the backseat of a vehicle with inferiority dates from mid-nineteenth century America. Max Beerbohm used the figure of speech in Around Theatres (1902): “He brought on a circus procession . . . and Oxford had to take a back seat.” See also: take The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer See also: take a back seat take a backseat, to in fine fettle in fine/good fettle be in fine fettle fettle fine fettle, in brown bottle flu have one foot in the grave one foot in the grave, have References in periodicals archive When it comes to accessories, it's time for chokers, hoop earrings, and barrettes to take a backseat and make room for padded headbands. Trend Alert: The '90s accessory you need (and how to wear it) The latest Windows 8 and its updated 8.1 version have been designed to better suit the tablet interface that appears to be the next big thing and force the traditional desktops take a backseat. 10% of PCs now running on Windows 8, 8.1 But like many women's music festivals, the tunes often take a backseat to the event itself, since artists, craftswomen, drum workshops, basketball games, and vendors create a marvelous minimetropolis. Wombstock rocks National Security Council anti-terror official Rand Beers takes a stand and resigns, reportedly over concerns that the war on terror will take a backseat to the war in Iraq. Balance sheet Though the now-broke Knoller and Noel may take a backseat to the Koppls in the civil proceedings, Cardoza and Kendell stress that they are far from off the hook. Justice for Sharon: the dog-mauling trial ended with guilty verdicts, but for Sharon Smith, partner to the woman killed, another legal battle is about to begin. (Court) John doesn't take a backseat to his handpicked interpreters, however. Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida
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