second banana

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

[edit] English

[edit] Noun

second banana (plural second bananas)

1. (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.

2. (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.

[edit] Related terms

• top banana