second string
The term "second string" originated from archers carrying a spare bowstring and is now commonly used to describe substitutes or backups in various contexts.
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Definition
B2Sports
(general)A substitute player who replaces a starter, often due to injury or performance issues.
Example
- The second-string quarterback led the team to a surprising victory.
- The coach decided to play the second string in the second half.
B2General
(idiomatic)A secondary or backup option that is considered inferior to the primary one.
Example
- The company's second-string management team was in charge during the CEO's absence.
- They had to rely on their second-string suppliers when the main ones failed to deliver.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "second string":
third stringfirst stringsecond fiddlesecond linestring betleading stringssecond bananastring togetherback rowsecond nameon a stringsecond bestpull stringsnumber twosecond class