second banana

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[edit] English

second banana (plural second bananas)

(idiomatic) A comedian who plays a secondary or supporting role, especially as straight man and traditionally in vaudeville or burlesque theatre.

He grew disenchanted with playing second banana and never getting credit for the laughter.
(idiomatic) A person who serves in a supporting, secondary, or subsidiary capacity; an assistant.

The plumber left his second banana behind, to finish installing my new sink.