Benchwarmer
A person present but not actively participating
Example
i didnt know you were on the school team
yep. but mostly a benchwarmer. i only scored 5 points all season
5 points more than me
Related Slang
| Duster | A person who sits inactive |
| Ride the pine | Sit on the bench |
| Soft benching | Benching a player without criticizing their play |
| Ghost cheeks | The warmth on a seat left by another person |
| Mendoza line | .200 batting average |
| Jock | An athlete |
| Siv | Bad goaltender |
| Skill issue | You're bad |
| Beast mode | Dominating gameplay |
| Stud | A highly skilled individual |
| Baller | A cool person |
Can you score under par in this golf terms quiz?
A "benchwarmer" is a player who spends most of the game sitting on the bench, warming up rather than actively participating. The word became popular in the 1980s and 1990s through sports culture and movies, and it has stuck around in both athletic and casual contexts, often used in a lighthearted or teasing way rather than as a serious insult.
Over time, the term expanded into everyday slang to describe anyone present but not actively contributing to a group, project, or social situation. Today, benchwarmer is commonly used by students, coworkers, gamers, and social media users to describe someone who is more of an observer than a participant. In gaming or workplace settings, for example, a benchwarmer might watch others do the main work while staying out of the spotlight.