Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2024 June 8

= June 8 =

Non-most important subgroup of people
What is the most common English idiom to label a subgroup of people not including the most important people in the group, but the next-most important? From analogy with German, I assume it is something like "the second row", "second rank" or similar. --KnightMove (talk) 15:58, 8 June 2024 (UTC)


 * In a military context, "rank and file" is often used. This is sometimes used metaphorically in non-military contexts, but would not always be appropriate. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 188.220.136.217 (talk) 16:24, 8 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Ok, thanks. But that would be 'too low' in my contexts. --KnightMove (talk) 18:38, 8 June 2024 (UTC)
 * I've frequently heard "second rank" and "second tier". I think it matters what the context is; could you give us a hint? Deor (talk) 19:49, 8 June 2024 (UTC)
 * One context: I want to collect the second rank (?) of the 27 Club, consisting of Robert Johnson and five other musicians. Other contexts include operatives in societies not included in the board or a somewhat equivalent top-level. --KnightMove (talk) 20:29, 8 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Associates? Doug butler (talk) 21:22, 8 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Here are a few uses of "second tier":, , , , The term implies a hierarchical division in levels, not a ranking based on somewhat arbitrary criteria, so it may not fit your intended use.  --Lambiam 21:36, 8 June 2024 (UTC)


 * I have no idea how one would go about grouping people in the "27 Club" into ranks or tiers. Popularity? It sounds very subjective to me. Deor (talk) 21:49, 8 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Of course that's highly subjective, as is the 27 Club list of people listed by anybody. Still, there is a clear "Big Six" group of the most important members which the English Wikipedia article does not care to mention. They are represented by the graffito, although the graffiti artist has also included 'fellow' Jean-Michel Basquiat. And there is also a surprisingly meaningful follow-up group of 'frequent additions'. --KnightMove (talk) 06:32, 9 June 2024 (UTC)
 * If it's celebrities we're talking about then B-List is the correct term. DuncanHill (talk) 09:57, 9 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Sounds good, thank you. --KnightMove (talk) 10:17, 9 June 2024 (UTC)