in the limelight
12
5.5
- idiom
:
en el centro de atención
- After winning the award, she found herself in the limelight more than ever before.
- bask in the limelight
- stay in the limelight
- moment in the limelight
You're going to be in the limelight if you allow yourself to be.
- You're going to be in the limelight if you allow yourself to be.
- Here's the thing guys is like I see so many clients that are either actors, you know, in the limelight, top CE OS, professional athletes, whatever the case is.
- Wood Greens being in the limelight in front of everyone for being the hood.
Examples
-
I'm uncomfortable in the limelight.
-
Our future leaders are not in the limelight yet.
Blog text (19) -
You seem comfortable in the limelight.
-
How does it feel to be in the limelight?
-
What about movie stars and people in the limelight?
Blog text (11) -
Scott and I enjoy being in the limelight.
Blog text (27) -
Apple TV is back in the limelight.
Blog text (16) -
You're going to be in the limelight if you allow yourself to be.
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He was always in the limelight.
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Mr Goldkiss, how does it feel to see your late son's art in the limelight finally?
Synonyms
208
3.5
Public attention focused on a person or issue
130
3.6
A job or position that gets a lot of public attention
45
3.7
A person or thing that gets attention from many people
36
3.7
Seen and talked about by many people
Gets public attention, often in the news
Antonyms
How Famous
12
5.5
36
3.7
∞
1.0
2
1.0
34
7.3
629
2.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'receiving public attention' follows directly from combining 'in' (indicating position) with 'limelight' (the focus of public attention); 'the' is just the definite article. Although historically metaphorical, the locative composition is straightforward and a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would readily infer the idiomatic sense.
Etymology
The idiom in the limelight comes from old theater, where a very bright stage light called limelight shone on actors. To stand in the limelight meant everyone could see you, so now it means 'receiving a great deal of public attention'.