come in a poor second

He was skiing like a demon and she came in a poor second.

Nonmilitary aid often comes in a poor second.

I didn't want to be their victim, I only wanted escape, but want usually comes in a poor second to need.

Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party came in a poor second nationally, winning 81 out of the 138 West Pakistani seats in the National Assembly.

The other contender for the Bummer title this summer, though admittedly coming in a poor second to "Battlefield Earth," is "Mission: Impossible 2," which continues the tradition established by the first one, a movie that still has people scratching their heads in puzzlement.