grandstand play
Americannoun
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an ostentatious play, as in a sport, overemphasized deliberately to elicit applause from spectators.
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any action or attempt designed to win approval or to make a strong impression.
His going to work on Christmas was another of his grandstand plays.
Etymology
Origin of grandstand play
An Americanism dating back to 1890–95
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This isn’t a grandstand play on my part; I’ve discovered—and you can see it in other entertainers—when they don’t reach out to the audience, nothing happens.
From Slate • Nov. 26, 2012
Unlike the drain on the Bank of England it could be nothing but a grandstand play for the U. S. has still twice as much gold in its vaults as France.
From Time Magazine Archive
He accused Rickenbacker, in effect, of staging a grandstand play.
From Time Magazine Archive
It was a characteristically Rubinsteinian feat�part grandstand play, part musical passion.
From Time Magazine Archive
"I wonder what sort of crazy or calculating grandstand play Darrin is trying to make just now?" pondered Midshipman Jetson, when informed of Dave's action at the meeting.
From Dave Darrin's Third Year at Annapolis Leaders of the Second Class Midshipmen by Hancock, H. Irving (Harrie Irving)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
