subordinate vs third string

subordinate

adj
  • Placed in a lower class, rank, or position. 

  • Descending in a regular series. 

  • dependent on and either modifying or complementing the main clause 

  • Submissive or inferior to, or controlled by authority. 

verb
  • To make subservient. 

  • To treat as of less value or importance. 

  • To make of lower priority in order of payment in bankruptcy. 

noun
  • One who is subordinate. 

third string

adj
  • Of a decidedly lower quality or condition. 

noun
  • A unit of players that plays behind the first and second strings; a junior varsity team. 

How often have the words subordinate and third string occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )