play first fiddle

And in consequence neither felt at home elsewhere than in their native place, where they were used to play first fiddle generally.

Though Italy might take Nice and Savoy, Algeria, Tunisia and Corsica from a tottering France, Egypt from a blitzkrieged Britain, and even part of Yugoslavia and Greece, Adolf Hitler would never let Mussolini play first fiddle in Europe above the shores of the Mediterranean.

Now every one who has been much upon the road must be fully aware that there is a feeling existent amply shared by man and horse, which, however strange the comparison may seem, is fully expressed in the old saying, that most people like to play first fiddle.

Then he added that the Baumhagens were the most distinguished and the wealthiest of the patricians in the city--evidently those who play first fiddle there.

Very good, but I won’t ask to play first fiddle.