TO TAKE A BACK SEAT, phr. (American).—To retire into obscurity; to confess failure; to be left behind. [The colloquialism received an immense ‘send off’ by Andrew Johnson in 1868: ‘in the works of Reconstruction traitors should TAKE BACK SEATS.’]
1885. Society, 7 Feb., 9. This great batting achievement must, however, TAKE A BACK SEAT when compared with the enormous total recently scored by Shaw’s Eleven in Australia.
1888. Daily News, 24 Feb., 5. 2. Any form of art which is barred by its very nature from perfection must TAKE … A BACK SEAT.
1890. The Sportsman, 6 Dec. The idea has been worked to death, and … it will have to TAKE A BACK SEAT.
