come 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.

See also: best, come, off, second

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.

See also: best, come, off, second

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.