taking the spotlight

USAGE SUMMARY

"taking the spotlight" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to attract attention or be the focus of attention. Example: "The talented young musician took the spotlight during the school's talent show, impressing the audience with her stunning performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

They are taking the spotlight off those who want positive change".

The New York Times

Their actions also succeeded in taking the spotlight off the loyal orders.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hero-worshipping other people was a way of taking the spotlight off my own weaknesses and winning approval.

The Guardian - Opinion

But then along comes New York, with Eliot Spitzer and Anthony D. Weiner taking the spotlight off our failings for a while.

The New York Times

Robbie Keane did his manager a favour by scoring his first goal for Celtic, thereby taking the spotlight away from the beleaguered Tony Mowbray.

The Guardian - Sport

The concert opened with Bach's Cantata No. 51, "Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen," followed by Handel's "Let the Bright Seraphim" from "Samson," with the Philharmonic trumpeter Matthew Muckey taking the spotlight alongside Ms. Persson.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Instead, upstarts took the spotlight.

The New York Times - Arts

Last night her fellow Yorkshirewoman took the spotlight.

The Guardian - Sport

This takes the spotlight off the distraction and puts it on the redirection.

The New York Times

The company's president, Sharon Patrick, plans to promote "new faces" to take the spotlight off Ms Stewart.

The Economist

Tells about events that took the spotlight away from the Kennedy-deGaulle talks.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "taking the spotlight" to describe situations where someone or something is receiving a lot of attention, particularly when it might be unexpected or overshadowing something else.

Common error

Avoid using "taking the spotlight" when simply describing someone who is naturally talented or deserving of attention; the phrase often implies a shift in focus or a degree of unexpectedness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "taking the spotlight" functions as a verbal phrase often used as part of a larger clause. It describes the action of someone or something becoming the center of attention. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Arts

10%

Sports

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "taking the spotlight" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe someone or something becoming the center of attention. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is particularly prevalent in News & Media, often denoting a shift in focus or an unexpected rise to prominence. While appropriate for neutral registers, more formal contexts might benefit from alternatives like "gaining prominence". Understanding the connotation is crucial; it's best used when describing a change in focus rather than inherent worthiness of attention.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

becoming the center of attention

More explicitly states the act of being the focal point.

becoming the main focus

Directly indicates being the primary point of interest.

attracting focus

Similar to drawing attention, but with a stronger emphasis on directed focus.

drawing attention

Focuses on the act of attracting attention, rather than explicitly being the center of it.

taking center stage

Implies a more theatrical or performance-oriented context.

commanding attention

Emphasizes authority and control in attracting attention.

gaining prominence

Emphasizes increasing importance and visibility over time.

rising to prominence

Highlights the upward trajectory towards greater visibility and influence.

grabbing the headlines

Specifically refers to gaining attention in news media.

stealing the show

Suggests outperforming others to gain attention, often in an entertainment context.

FAQs

How can I use "taking the spotlight" in a sentence?

You can use "taking the spotlight" to describe when someone or something becomes the center of attention. For example, "The underdog team ended up "taking the spotlight" during the championship game".

What are some alternatives to "taking the spotlight"?

Some alternatives include "drawing attention", "gaining prominence", or "becoming the center of attention", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "taking the spotlight" in formal writing?

While "taking the spotlight" is widely understood, it might be more suitable for news articles or less formal contexts. In highly formal writing, consider using alternatives like "gaining prominence" or "attracting significant attention".

What does it mean when someone is "taking the spotlight away from" something else?

It means they are overshadowing or diverting attention from the other thing. For example, "The scandal ended up "taking the spotlight" away from the company's positive earnings report".