takes a back seat
Accepts secondary role
Takes a back seat means to assume a less prominent or influential position, yielding priority to something or someone else.
The image is of sitting in the rear of a vehicle while another drives or rides up front: Her career took a back seat after the children were born.
Safety concerns took a back seat to profits.
- behind the scenesOut of public view
- let goCease holding something
- play second fiddleOccupy secondary rank
- subordinateOne lower in rank
- auxiliaryGiving additional support
silent partner · step aside · yield · give way · second fiddle · secondary · defer · bow out · relinquish · acquiesce · concede · stand down · withdraw · fade out · abdicate · fall in line · supportive · junior
prominence/leadership
takes a back seattakes charge
Begins directing others
takes the reins · takes control · dominates · leads · steps up
take, takes, taken, taking, taker, takers, back, backs, backed