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Region: General | Usage example: That unexpected speech stole the show at the wedding.

Steal the show

Meaning

Attract more attention than others in a performance or event.

Usage

Applied to anyone who outshines peers unexpectedly.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Theater term describing performers who grab focus.

20th-century Broadway reviews popularized the phrase.

Related Idioms

Steal a person's thunder

Take credit or attention from someone else.

Steal someone's thunder

Take credit for someone else's idea.

Dog and pony show

A showy presentation designed to impress.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.