back bench, the—1. (UK Parliament) members who do not hold office:
- Those who sit on the back benches are members of the governing party who are not ministers. These members are known collectively as the back bench.
2. (U.S. Congress) new members of Congress considered as a group:
- Reform often comes from the back bench in Congress. Junior members have the least to lose and the shortest (and usually cleanest) records.
back seat—(in the phrase “take a back seat”) a subordinate or less important position:
- Serious writing took hold of my life when I was in my teens, but with a long work schedule it took a back seat.