come off second best
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Related to comes off second best: came off second best
come off second best
To finish something, such as a contest or competition, in second place. Even though I'd spent weeks working on my project for the science fair, I still came off second best.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
come off second best
to be second to someone or something; to get the poorer end of a bargain. As usual, he came off second best with a little less prize money than the winner. I don't want to come off second best again.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.