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second banana
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Tweet n. Slang 1. a. A person who supports or is subordinate to another. b. A person who is lesser in status or importance: "It became how he defined himself—the second banana, the second tier, the good but not great" (Douglas Perry). 2. A comedian who plays a supporting role to the leading comedian, especially as a straight man. 3. Something that is ranked second in comparison to something that is ranked first: "New York may be second banana to Los Angeles when it comes to the film and television industry, but the city's supporting role is larger than New York officials had realized" (Terry Pristin). |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
