Variations around "to take a back seat"

Take a back seat

1. if an activity takes a back seat, you spend less time doing that than other things

• He's been putting all his energies into house-hunting recently so his studies have had to take a back seat. (sometimes + to ) 
• In my early twenties, politics very much took a back seat to sport and socializing.

2. to let other people take a more active and responsible part in an organization or a situation

• I was content to take a back seat and let the rest of my family deal with the crisis.

To step aside (for someone) or step down

1. Lit. to move out of someone's way. 

• Would you step aside for my uncle and his walker? 
• We had to step aside for the people in wheelchairs to get by.

2. Fig. to retire from an office so someone else can take over. 

• The president retired and stepped aside for someone else. 
• Walter stepped aside for a younger person to take over.

To take a step back or to step back (from someone or something)

to move away from someone or something; to move back so as to provide space around someone or something. 

• Please step back from the injured woman. Give her some air. Step back and give her some air.

To stand aloof

• He should stand aloof from the public sphere.