in a good light

Idioms  

1. Under favorable circumstances, as in They thought he'd make a wonderful mayor, but they'd only seen him in a good light, or The book portrayed their actions in a good light. Both this expression and its antonym, in a bad light, transfer physical light in which something can (or cannot) be seen clearly to figurative use. The literal terms date from the early 1500s.

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Example Sentences

Do you think people who are in frats will appreciate that "The Line" is authentic, even though the film doesn't paint them in a good light?

From Salon • Jun. 7, 2023

“So I think being able to make the country smile and celebrate — and showing the country in a good light — just puts a smile on everyone’s faces.”

From Washington Post • Mar. 2, 2023

She rejects that, saying she had not thought he would leak it as it did not present him in a good light.

From Reuters • Nov. 12, 2021

In her written evidence, Meghan said she did not think her father would sell or leak the letter "primarily because it would not put him in a good light".

From BBC • Nov. 11, 2021

I mean to dry out this card, and then, in a good light, we ought to be able to tell what the marks are.

From The Boys of the Wireless by Webster, Frank V.