be second only to (someone or something)

be second only to (someone or something)

To be regarded as less valuable or important than only one other person or thing. She's a great candidate for the job—her experience is second only to her knowledge of the industry. A: "Your parents would really have a problem with you going to that Ivy League school instead?" B: "Oh yeah. It doesn't matter that it's second only to Harvard—everyone in my family goes to Harvard." I can't report to some 30-year-old with five minutes of experience in the field—not after being second only to the CEO for years!

See also: second, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

be second only to somebody/something

be in a position where only one person or thing is better, more important, etc: As a pianist, he was second only to Rubinstein.

See also: second, somebody, something, to

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017