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Buzzword - 备胎(bèi tāi)
 
The original meaning is the automobile spare tire.
But now it has another meaning. It means that someone plays second fiddle in a relationship.
For example
From the very start, Jeremy was doomed to play second fiddle. 
从一开始,Jeremy 就注定是个备胎。
 
Five other expressions
1. a back-up:原义指“备份”,引申为感情上的“备胎”。
2. a second line:字面含义是“第二排”,即“二线的”,与“备胎”含义相符。
3. a just-in-case:just in case表示“以防万一”,a just-in-case把它活用成一个名词,表示“一个以防万一的人”,就是“备胎”;
4. a B-plan:即“B计划”。A计划是优先的,不行了再用B计划,也挺符合“备胎”的内涵。
5. a contingency:原义指“可能发生也可能不发生的事情”,英文中有 a contingency plan(备用方案)、a contingency fund(备用金)的说法。
 
Bench
Before couples define their relationship, either party is at risk of being 'benched'. This happens when one person is unsure of their future with their current partner and so puts them on the bench.
在双方挑明、确定关系之前,双方都可能是对方的“备胎”。当一个人不确定要和目前的伴侣共度未来时,可能就会去寻找新目标,而将现任视为“备胎”。
bench 的原义是“板凳”,经常被用在球赛中表示替补席,“替补队员”就是坐在替补席的板凳(bench)上的,后来引申成“备胎”的含义。 从上文中我们可以知道:bench可以做名词,还可以活用成动词:bench somebody,还可以说put somebody on the bench. --“让某人坐板凳”,即“将某人视为备胎”。
例句:
I love her so much, but she always puts me on the bench.
我很爱她,但她总是把我视为“备胎”。

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