take a backseat, to occupy a secondary or inferior position:
Her writing has taken a backseat because of other demands on her time.
Origin
1825-35
Slang definitions & phrases for take a back seat
take a back seat
verb phrase
To assume or accept a subordinate position; demote or degrade oneself: He said he wouldn't take a back seat to anybody but the president himself(1888+)
Idioms and Phrases with take a back seat
take a back seat
Occupy an inferior position; allow another to be in control. For example, Linda was content to take a back seat and let Nancy run the meeting. This idiom uses back seat in contrast to the driver's seat, that is, the one in control. [ Mid-1800s ]