take a back seat - have little or only observational involvement in something - not a car metaphor, this was originally a parliamentary expression derived from the relative low influence of persons and issues from the back benches (the bench-seats where members sit in the House of Commons), as opposed to the front benches, where the leaders of the government and opposition sit.

I think I rather like the front, this is a fun site

Nita

Thank you, Nita.

The car connexion was the first thing that I thought of. Perhaps this saying has been confused with ‘backseat driver’, which is an interesting phrase to unpack all by itself.

The compound backbench is used in the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. I think backbencher is used in the US to refer to a new member of Congress.

In The House of Commons there are two sets of benches facing one another (a rather adversarial arrangement). Facing the Speaker’s Chair, the government benches are to the left, and the opposition sit to the right. Senior members of the Government and Opposition sit on the their respective front benches. This is so that they can speak from one of the two dispatch boxes (symbolising that they are speaking for the Crown: which seems rather schizophrenic). Other members have to stand in the back benches to speak. Recently, we have had a few ‘backbench rebellions’, where non-ministerial Labour Party MPs have voted against the party whip. A minister is also said to retire or resign to the backbenches.

There’s so much wonderful jargon in politics; I’m sure that’s why politicians end up speaking rubbish.

- Garzo.

Facing the Speaker’s Chair, the government benches are to the left, and the opposition sit to the right.

This is interesting; I thought that sheep were on the right hand, goats on the left?

This is so that they can speak from one of the two dispatch boxes (symbolising that they are speaking for the Crown: which seems rather schizophrenic).

I did not know this was the reason for the podiums. erm, podia. I thoroughly enjoy your parliamentary procedures, when I can catch them on PBS!

Recently, we have had a few ‘backbench rebellions’,

This also happens when new members in the Agora post words and ideas that stimulate harrumphing and debate! Don’t take a back seat, Nita!
gailr

"harrumphing " what a delightful word, so expressive.  No backseaters those harrumphers.  Everyone knows how to get their way, there is crying, kicking, biting, and harrumphing!  Whence comes the idiom ‘the squeaky wheel gets the grease’.

by the way, I’ve seen lately how spelling seems to be changing, I’ve noticed that even amoung literary types, or those who fancy themselves thus, a new spelling of connection and even some other tion words is now with an X, is this considered correct?  I mean no offense I’m just asking because I do see it, around.
Nita

[quote author=gailr link=board=idiom;num=1084578992;start=0#2 date=05/15/04 at 13:13:22]This is interesting; I thought that sheep were on the right hand, goats on the left?

If you sat in the Speaker’s Chair, the sheep - sorry, Government - would be to your right. I once toured the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa, which is based on the same prinicples as the London Parliament. While the student conducting the tour wasn’t looking, a three-year-old girl climbed into the big, comfy, green Speaker’s Chair: security came running from all directions!

[quote author=gailr link=board=idiom;num=1084578992;start=0#2 date=05/15/04 at 13:13:22]I did not know this was the reason for the podiums. erm, podia. I thoroughly enjoy your parliamentary procedures, when I can catch them on PBS!

British English does not use the term podium for a lectern, only for a raised platform for speakers. The desks are official message boxes - dispatch boxes - and the speech is given from the floor of the House. The phrase would be: "The Prime Minister is now at the Dispatch Box and taking questions".

[quote author=gailr link=board=idiom;num=1084578992;start=0#2 date=05/15/04 at 13:13:22]This also happens when new members in the Agora post words and ideas that stimulate harrumphing and debate! Don’t take a back seat, Nita!

Nita, we, including Gail, enjoy such stimulation (although Katy prefers hers to be 100% natural). Harrumphing always makes me think of anthropomorphized elephants.

Harrumphing always makes me think of anthropomorphized elephants.

Cornelius may have harrumphed.  I believe that Babar was too self-effacing for harrumphing.

Perry
I do believe in elephants.  I do. I do. I do.