second string
Not the starters
Second string refers to backup or reserve players on a sports team—those who substitute when starters can't play.
The term extends beyond athletics to mean any backup option or person not considered first choice: He was second string at the law firm, always passed over for major cases.
As an adjective, second-string describes subordinate status: a second-string quarterback, second-string candidates.
Backup actor, ready nightly
- reserveSupply kept back
- substituteReplacement for another
- benchwarmerSeldom-used team member
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
stand-in · fill-in · replacement · alternate · junior varsity · depth chart · relief · deputy
Lower in degree
- secondaryLesser in rank
- subordinateOne lower in rank
- inferiorOf lower rank
- minor leagueLower-tier professional sports
also-ran · runner-up · overlooked · undervalued · unproven · waiting in the wings · lower tier · plan B
understudy
Backup actor, ready nightly
- reserveSupply kept back
- substituteReplacement for another
- benchwarmerSeldom-used team member
backup · stand-in · fill-in · replacement · alternate · junior varsity · depth chart · relief · deputy · bench player
lesser
Lower in degree
- secondaryLesser in rank
- subordinateOne lower in rank
- inferiorOf lower rank
minor league · also-ran · runner-up · overlooked · undervalued · unproven · waiting in the wings · lower tier · plan B
- sports termssoccer, football, basketball, tennis, golf
- Backup TeamsB team, reserve team, backups, substitutes, subs
- sidelinedbenched, shelved, sidetracked, put on hold, on hold
- sports idiomsdrop the ball, throw in the towel, slam dunk, out of left field, level playing field
- team designationsred team, blue team, varsity, junior varsity, home team
- lineupsstarting lineup, police lineup, batting order, roster, suspect lineup
second stringfirst string
Starting squad members
starting lineup · starter · first team · varsity · A-team
second stringfirst-rate
Of superior quality
top-tier · first choice · elite · primary · premier
second, string, secondly, seconds, seconded, seconding, strings, stringed, stringing