“Bit part” refers to a small role in a production or a minor contribution to a team. It can be used to complain about a small role. Idioms like this can be difficult for non-native speakers to understand. Bit part actors hope to advance to bigger roles. Cameos and extras are different from bit parts. In sports, players who warm the bench may feel like “bit part” players.
Bit part is an idiomatic phrase used to denote someone who has a small role to play. This usually refers to an actor in a comedy, television show, or film. It is also used to refer to someone who has had a small part in a project or a sportsman who has made a small contribution to the team. In some cases, the term is used to disparage someone or is used by the side player to complain about his relatively small role.
Idioms like “bit part” and “kick the bucket” are non-literal phrases. Native speakers often understand idioms when second language learners do not. This is because idioms are often culturally specific and students lack the contextual awareness to understand them.
The term “bit part” comes from Old English and Proto-Germanic. A bit refers to two things: a piece of drill that makes holes, and the little bits that a drill or tool creates. Over time, the small parts created became known as bit parts, and this placement was attributed to other industries such as actors with smaller roles.
There are various types of roles and small part actors. Some actors are able to make a career out of such roles, while others make it as a hobo as a means of funding college or getting noticed for bigger roles. Bit part actors are sometimes called Under Sixes, meaning they have fewer than six lines; other supporting actors might have more lines, but still wouldn’t be considered a major actor or character.
Supporting actors often have more than six lines. Such small parts are more important than the extras, but they are much less important than the main characters. They can still make a big impression as a lead character. Some notable minor characters include Pete Hornberger from “30 Rock” and Tariq Masood from “Spooks”.
Cameos and extras are also different from bit parts. A cameo is a guest appearance, often a small part played by a famous actor or celebrity. Examples of cameos include Peter Jackson playing Santa in “Hot Fuzz.” An extra has a non-speaking background and does not affect the story in any way.
These actors often hope to get better parts in other shows, movies and plays or hope to have their character promoted to the rank of a major character. The term “bit part” is often used in this context as a form of complaint. Some supporting characters garner a following online, with viewers wanting to know more about them. This is especially true for television shows that have the opportunity to grow and develop over time.
In sport, the players aside, in football for example, they tend to warm up the bench. They spend a lot of time on the sidelines watching matches and playing a small role as a substitute. When such players ask to leave the team, they tend to express their frustration at being a “bit biased player”.
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