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Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

up in lights

English answer:

in the spotlight/public eye

Added to glossary by S.J
Feb 13, 2021 18:44
3 yrs ago
37 viewers *
English term

up in lights

Non-PRO English Other General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters up in lights
On the field and up in lights, Australians punch above their weight, proving themselves on the world stage.

The field refers to athletes, "up in lights" is synchronized with a picture of people performing on a stage.

Thanks in advance,
Responses
4 +3 in the spotlight/public eye
4 -1 seeing on'e name in lights

Responses

+3
24 mins
Selected

in the spotlight/public eye

Hence the picture of people on a stage.

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/name in lights

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Note added at 37 mins (2021-02-13 19:21:54 GMT)
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Depending on the wider context, it could refer to entertainers or anyone who achieves international prominence.
Peer comment(s):
agree Cilian O'Tuama : Yes, it's about people up in lights, not their names. It sure helps if you can read. LOL.
5 hrs
agree David Hollywood : get's my vote
8 hrs
agree Tony M : It's a little odd, though I would have understood it more easily if the people had been in a boxing ring rather than on a theatre stage; perhaps it is referring also to actors like Mel Gibson, Nicole Kidman, etc.
13 hrs
Yes, it is slightly odd. Thanks.
agree Brent Sørensen
16 hrs
disagree Yvonne Gallagher : notwithstanding all the agrees, this doesn't mean "in the spotlight" Just noticed you actually gave the right definition of "name in lights"!! //I never said "in the field"?? Read again.
19 hrs
You've suggested "On the field and seeing one's name in lights", which is meaningless. "One's" is especially jarring.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you,"
-1
53 mins

seeing on'e name in lights

whether outside a theatre or an arena or on the giant display scoreboard in an arena or stadium

means being famous or popular

https://www.oysterenglish.com/idiom-ones-name-in-lights.html





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Note added at 54 mins (2021-02-13 19:38:53 GMT)
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typo
seeing your/ one's name in lights

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Note added at 55 mins (2021-02-13 19:39:49 GMT)
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so your name is literally up in lights

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Note added at 1 day 17 hrs (2021-02-15 12:09:59 GMT)
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what name in lights looks like on a cinema marquee
https://www.google.com/search?q=cinema marquee sign&rlz=1C1C...

or on electroonic scoreboard
https://www.google.com/search?q=electronic scoreboard olympi...
Peer comment(s):
disagree Cilian O'Tuama : On the field and seeing one's name in lights? Doesn't really make sense. Seems more about when Aussies play sport (field) or perform in public view (in the lights), they tend to do better than you'd normally expect.//There's no mention of "name" in the ST
7 hrs
This is what this expression means IF you care to look at the definition. Your rambling explanation makes no sense: "perform in the lights"? LOL//I never said "on the field"??/disagree totally unwarranted
Something went wrong...
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