to "take a back seat" is to assume a non-participatory role on an issue or situation.
"I'm sick of taking a back seat about things that go on around here. I'm gonna say a few things at tomorrow's meeting!"
By Augustine
Back Seat
In alpine skiing, being in a position where one's center-of-mass is shifted toward the tails of the skis instead of toward the tips. Results in reduced control, adaptability to changing terrain, and ability to make a full turn.
To take part in sexual activitiesin the backseat of a car that is being driven by someone without them knowing of the activities occurring in the backseat.
The curious phenomena by which men traveling in the back of large jostling vehicles (busses, vans, ect) tend to achieve spontaneous erection due initially to the jostling of the vehicle and then secondarily to the jostling of their own wood against their legs and/or pants. This erection can often be relieved only by extrication from the back seat.
Cody: Holy cow have I got a case of Back Seat Syndrome.