Steal the show

Definition

To attract the most attention or praise in a performance or event, often unexpectedly overshadowing the main attraction.

Etymology

This theatrical phrase emerged in the early 1900s from vaudeville and stage performances, where a supporting actor might deliver such an outstanding performance that they became the audience's focus instead of the headliner. The 'theft' metaphor suggests taking something valuable (attention) that rightfully belonged to someone else.

Kelly Says

The criminal metaphor is delightfully apt because it captures both the surprise element and the slightly guilty pleasure audiences feel when a scene-stealer upstages the star. Unlike actual theft, however, stealing the show often elevates the entire production, proving that sometimes the best 'crimes' benefit everyone involved.

Translations

AMአማርኛ
秀ን አይን
shuu-n ayn
ARالعربية
سرق عرض المسرح
sarq 'urad al-masrah
BNবাংলা
শোকে চুরি
sho-ke churi
CACatalà
robar el espectacle
roh-bar el es-pek-ta-cle
CSČeština
ukrást show
ukrasť sho
DADansk
snyde showet
sny-de sho-et
DEDeutsch
die Show stehlen
dee shoh shtay-len
ELΕλληνικά
κλέβει την παράσταση
kle-vei tin para-stasi
ESEspañol
robar el show
roh-bar el show
FAفارسی
نمایش را دزدیدن
ne-ma-yesh ra dez-di-den
FISuomi
varkastaa show'n
var-kas-taa sho-n
FRFrançais
voler la vedette
vɔle la vedɛt
GUGU
શો ચોરી
sho cho-ri
HAHA
sa'a fim
sa-a fim
HEעברית
גנב את ההצגה
ganav et ha-hitza-gah
HIहिन्दी
दिलकश करना
dilkash karna
HUMagyar
ellopja a show-t
el-lop-ja a sho-t
IDBahasa Indonesia
curi perhatian
ku-ri pe-ra-ti-an
IGIG
gba show
gba sho
ITItaliano
rubare la scena
roo-bare la skena
JA日本語
ショーを盗む
sho o nusumu
KKKK
шоуды тарту
sho-u-dy tar-tu
KMKM
លប់សង្ស្រង់
lab sang-srong
KO한국어
쇼를 빼앗다
sho-reul ppa-at-da
MRMR
शो चोर
sho chor
MSBahasa Melayu
curi tumpuan
ku-ri tum-pu-an
MYမြန်မာ
ပြပွဲကိုမူး
pyi-pwe-ko-mu
NLNederlands
de show stelen
de sho ste-len
NONorsk
snike showet
sni-ke sho-et
PAPA
ਸੋ Show ਚੁਰਾਉਣਾ
so sho chura-au-na
PLPolski
ukraść show
ukrasc sho
PTPortuguês
roubar o show
roo-bar oh show
RORomână
a fura spectacolul
a fu-ra spek-ta-kul-ul
RUРусский
украсть шоу
ukrasť sho
SVSvenska
stjäla showen
shtay-la sho-en
SWKiswahili
ibadili onyesho
i-ba-di-li o-nye-sho
TAதமிழ்
நிகழ்ச்சியைத் திருட
ni-ga-cchi-ai-th tir-u-da
TEతెలుగు
షోను దోచుకోవడం
sho-nu do-chu-ko-va-dam
THไทย
ยัดเยียดความเด่น
yat yeot kwam den
TLTL
magnanak ng palabas
ma-gna-nak ng pa-la-bas
TRTürkçe
gösteriyi çalmak
gosteriyi chalmak
UKУкраїнська
красти шоу
kras-ty sho
URاردو
ڈھنگ چھین لینا
dhing chin laina
VITiếng Việt
ăn cắp chương trình
an cap chuong trinh
YOYO
gba show
gba sho
ZH中文
抢走风头
qiǎng zǒu fēng tóu
ZUZU
ukuthiwe i-show
u-ku-thi-we i-sho

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