lost in the shuffle

English

Phrase

lost in the shuffle

1. (idiomatic, informal) Failing to stand out or receive attention as a result of a larger-scale change or transformation.
   • 1975 July, Gil Scott-Heron, “Lost in the Shuffle”, in Ebony, volume 30, number 9, Johnson Publishing Company, page 28:

     We have allowed ourselves to be "lost in the shuffle" of American priorities in the '70s, but we should never lose sight of ourselves and our goals as our priorities.

   • 1987, Robert Subby, Lost in the shuffle: the co-dependent reality, HCI, page 39:

     We get lost in the shuffle, and in the end we don't even know that we have needs - much less know what these needs might be.

   • 1988 December 4, Judy Haris, Laurie Livingston, “Going Public”, in Gay Community News, volume 16, number 21, page 9:

     That's the way things happen in AIDS Action. The Board makes a very clear mandate and then whatever the executive director and senior staff feel should happen is what actually happens...and the Board action gets lost in the shuffle.

   • 1992, Michael G. Kalogerakis, Handbook of psychiatric practice in the juvenile court: the Workgroup on Psychiatric Practice in the Juvenile Court of the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Pub, page 24:

     In the occasional highly publicized case, then, the best interests of the child may be lost in the shuffle.