A person or feeling one uses to keep his or herself grounded or in a calm state when things are not well.

Noun: a friend who is usually only called upon by a friend when a more primary/prominent friend is unavailable.

Taken from the term “second string” in an athletic competition situation. In football, if the star quarterback gets injured during a play, the second string is called off the bench to replace him/her. A “Second String Friend” is essentially benched until needed, if ever.

Synonyms: Plan B, Second Choice, Secondary Friend, Benched Until Needed

A person who can slow down an entire group.
A person who requires constant help or attention from some one else.

The last person to go during a relay.
The strongest or fastest competetor on the team, meant to pick up the slack at the last second.

To wait. Anchoring - waiting.

A large, heavy object dropped from a ship to prevent it from floating away. However, using anchors in the way they are intended to be used is just plain boring. Anchors are much more entertaining if they are dropped from the sky onto the head of someone you hate or generally dislike. In this sense, anchors are closely related to anvils and 16-ton weights. Though less common than its relatives, the anchor is favored by sadists for its broad, dull blade, which creates a spectacle that is generally much more gory than its broad-bottomed alternatives, which are known for creating simple splats or accordion effects.