take a backseat

take a backseat (to someone)

to let someone else deal with something. I was happy to take a backseat and let my brother deal with the family crisis.

Etymology: based on the idea of sitting in the backseat of a car and letting someone else drive

See also: take

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take a backseat (to something)

to be considered to be less important than something else. For many kids, homework takes a backseat to sports.

See also: take