take a back seat

Idioms

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]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As is typical with these congressional addresses, no matter who the president is, foreign policy tended to take a back seat.

From BBC

“Even though the overall fundamentals of the business remain solid, that will likely take a back seat to the battle to acquire Warner Bros.,” media analyst Ralph Schackart of William Blair wrote in a note to clients.

From MarketWatch

“Notional ideas rooted in fundamentals are going to frequently take a back seat in favor of the ever-increasing pace of change in global geopolitics,” he says.

From The Wall Street Journal

Credit-card revenue fears are likely to quickly take a back seat as Delta reports earnings Tuesday, providing a key update on the health of the sector.

From Barron's

Musk himself has hinted he could leave Tesla or take a back seat if his ownership share is not raised enough to give him the influence over its future that he desires.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023