always the bridesmaid, never the bride

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
  • bride
  • bridesmaid
  • 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
HIT In I've been a bridesmaid once for my sister so you could say always the bridesmaid, never the bride."
Angeline: I'll never make a Commitment to marriage; Star, 50, to avoid 'binding institution'
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Now she's the bride."
Golden girl
But to say she was "always the bridesmaid, never the bride" would be to sell her short.
Mary Anderson
'Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.' Many would lament that overused phrase, but in my mind, I keep thinking, 'Mabuti pa nga kayo eh!'
Fantasizing at Maxene and Robby's wedding
Mr Neil asked why Plaid - which won three of Wales' 40 seats in 2015 - had never had a "breakthrough", saying the party was "always the bridesmaid, never the bride".
Leanne: 'I will probably remain leader of Plaid even if poll disappoints'
Some may say Liverpool, always the bridesmaid, never the bride.
Washing your dirty linen in public is never a good idea
Clark was always the bridesmaid, never the bride on the PGA Tour, with eight second-place finishes, but you never would have guessed as he held his nerve to come home one shot ahead of good friend Robert Allenby.
Clark ready to reach for the top
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride, you might well say.
Handy profit, but prize out of reach
KATHERINE Heigl is always the bridesmaid, never the bride in 27 DRESSES (12).
cinema: DVD OUT NOW
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.Standardissue chic-flick which fans of this sort off thing will lap up without stopping to think why.
AT THE MOVIES
They say, 'Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.'
showbiz: A WEEK IN QUOTES
For far too long the people of this city have meekly accepted the 'Second City' label and have been treated as second class, second rate, always the bridesmaid, never the bride.
Letter: YourSay - Second city? It's a myth!
Wise brides value them, recognising that they selflessly play second fiddle and often suffer endless repetition of that ghastly cliche "always the bridesmaid, never the bride" that invariably gets levelled at them by some cheeky guest during the reception.
MAID TO ORDER!; ADVERTISING FEATURE
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride...that fate seems to be in store for EMMA (Cert U, on release now).
What's on at the movies
Career-orientated Jane is always the bridesmaid, never the bride. In fact, she's so good at being a bridesmaid that she's done the job 27 times, and has a wardrobe full of dresses to prove it.
MOVIE WATCH II