Choose the most appropriate option to fill in the blank in the given sentence:
The CFO refused the last minute invitation to the meeting of the company as it was not in his character to _________ to the general manager.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → play second fiddle
The phrase comes from the orchestra, where the second violin plays a supporting part to the first. The CFO refused the invitation because it was not in his character to accept a lower position than the general manager.
Complete sentence: The CFO refused the last minute invitation to the meeting of the company as it was not in his character to play second fiddle to the general manager.
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) play second fiddle (answer) | to take a less important position under someone else | After the merger, the founder had to play second fiddle to the new chairman. |
| (2) take a leap in the dark | to do something risky without knowing what will happen. It has nothing to do with rank. | Leaving a steady job to start a business was a leap in the dark. |
| (3) take time by the forelock | to act promptly and seize an opportunity (Time was pictured with a lock of hair on his forehead, which had to be grasped as he came). It does not fit refusing a lower position. | She took time by the forelock and applied on the first day. |
| (4) play truant | to stay away from school or work without permission. It does not fit the sentence. | The boys played truant and went to the cinema. |
| Also asked in CUET (UG): play second fiddle – 23-05-2026 Slot 2 take time by the forelock – 21-05-2026 Slot 1 |