跑龙套 bit player
Explanation
这个成语原本指的是戏曲中拿着旗子做兵卒的角色，后来比喻在人手下做无关紧要的事，指那些没有重要角色，只做一些杂务的工作。
The idiom originally referred to the role of a soldier carrying a flag in opera. Later, it was used as a metaphor for those who work under someone and do not have important tasks, that is, those who do not have important roles and only do tasks.
Origin Story
在古代的戏台上，除了主角之外，还有很多跑龙套的角色。这些角色通常是士兵、侍卫、百姓等，他们没有固定的台词，只是在主角登场时配合着做一些简单的动作，例如举旗、跑来跑去、跪拜等。他们的戏份很少，但却是舞台上不可或缺的一部分。就好比是一部电影，主角是主角，但如果没有这些跑龙套的演员，电影就无法完整地展现出来。 跑龙套的角色虽然不起眼，但他们也是演员，他们也需要认真地对待自己的工作。他们需要刻苦练习，熟练地掌握动作，才能在舞台上表现得更加出色。 在现实生活中，我们也会遇到很多“跑龙套”的人，他们也许是默默无闻的基层工作者，也许是默默奉献的志愿者，他们虽然没有显赫的功绩，但他们的工作却对社会的发展起着至关重要的作用。
On the ancient stage, in addition to the leading roles, there were many bit players. These roles were usually soldiers, guards, civilians, etc. They didn't have fixed lines, they just did some simple actions to cooperate when the leading roles appeared, such as holding flags, running back and forth, kneeling, etc. Their roles were small, but they were an indispensable part of the stage. Just like a movie, there are leading roles, but without these bit players, the movie cannot be fully displayed. The role of bit players may be inconspicuous, but they are also actors, and they need to take their work seriously. They need to practice hard and master the movements proficiently in order to perform better on stage. In real life, we also encounter many “bit players”, they may be unknown grassroots workers, or they may be dedicated volunteers, they may not have outstanding achievements, but their work plays a vital role in the development of society.
Usage
这个成语多用于讽刺那些做些无关紧要的小事的人，比喻他们没有重要地位，只做一些辅助性的工作。
This idiom is often used to ridicule those who do unimportant things, that is, those who do not have an important position and only do supporting work.
Examples
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他只是个跑龙套的小角色，没什么大不了的。
tā zhǐ shì gè pǎo lóng tào de xiǎo juésè, méi shénme dà bù liǎo de.
He's just a bit player, no big deal.
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这个剧组里大部分演员都是跑龙套的，只有少数几位是主角。
zhège jù zǔ lǐ dà bù fèn yǎn yuán dōu shì pǎo lóng tào de, zhǐ yǒu shǎo shù jǐ wèi shì zhǔ jué.
Most of the actors in this crew are bit players, only a few are leads.
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我刚开始做这份工作的时候，也只是一个跑龙套的，现在我已经是部门主管了。
wǒ gāng kāishǐ zuò zhè fèn gōng zuò de shí hòu, yě zhǐ shì yīgè pǎo lóng tào de, xiàn zài wǒ yǐ jīng shì bù mén zhǔ guǎn le.
When I first started this job, I was just a bit player, now I'm the department head.
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我虽然只是一个跑龙套的，但我还是尽心尽力地做好自己的工作。
wǒ suī rán zhǐ shì yīgè pǎo lóng tào de, dàn wǒ hái shì jìn xīn jìn lì de zuò hǎo zì jǐ de gōng zuò.
Although I'm just a bit player, I still do my best to do my job.
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他以前在很多剧组跑龙套，积累了不少经验，现在终于有机会主演一部电影了。
tā yǐ qián zài hěn duō jù zǔ pǎo lóng tào, jī lěi le bù shǎo jīng yàn, xiàn zài zhōng yú yǒu jī huì zhǔ yǎn yī bù diànyǐng le.
He used to be a bit player in many crews, he has accumulated a lot of experience, and now he finally has the opportunity to star in a movie.