back seat

[/bæk siːt/]
nounpl: back seats
banco de trás
1. The seat or seats located at the rear of a vehicle, typically behind the front seats where passengers sit
The children sat in the back seat during the long drive.
As crianças sentaram no banco de trás durante a longa viagem.
2. A position of less importance or influence; being secondary or subordinate
She took a back seat in the project to let her colleague lead.
Ela ocupou uma posição secundária no projeto para deixar sua colega liderar.
3. A position of reduced responsibility or involvement
After retiring, he took a back seat in the family business.
Depois de se aposentar, ele ocupou uma posição secundária no negócio da família.
In Brazilian and American English, 'back seat' is commonly used both literally for vehicle seating and figuratively in business and social contexts to indicate a subordinate role. The idiom 'take a back seat' is widely understood to mean stepping back from a leadership position. 'Back seat driver' is a common expression referring to someone who gives unsolicited advice.
NYC Slang
in the backseat / riding shotgun (opposite)
Synonyms / Sinônimos
rear seatpassenger seatsecondary positionsubordinate role
Antonyms / Antônimos
front seatdriver's seatleadership positionprominent role

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
banco de trás
most common usage
Rio de Janeiro
banco de trás
standard usage
São Paulo
banco de trás
standard usage
Portugal
banco traseiro
more formal variant used in European Portuguese

Related Words

front seatpassengervehicleautomobileseating

Related Idioms & Phrases

take a back seat
ride in the back seat
back seat driver
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