in the limelight

English

Etymology

From the use of limelight for theatre lighting, in particular, for powering the spotlights which are used to put the focus on individual actors on stage.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Prepositional phrase

in the limelight

1. (idiomatic) In the focus of attention, especially from the media.

   The politician was in the limelight from the moment the scandal became public.

   Synonym: in the spotlight

Translations

focus of attention

• Dutch: in het spotlicht, in het centrum van de aandacht
• Finnish: parrasvaloissa
• French: sous les feux de la rampe
• German: im Rampenlicht n, im Mittelpunkt des Interesses m
• Italian: sotto i riflettori
• Spanish: en el candelero
• Swedish: i rampljuset

See also

• public eye
• spotlight