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

“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

They did put Tesla Autopilot in a good light: For the fourth quarter of 2021, Tesla reported one crash per 4.31 million miles driven in cars equipped with Autopilot.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 27, 2022

"Person D" told the panel he was asked by Mr Spencer to make "illegitimate amendments" to attendance data to "show the school in a good light" and that this "dishonest practice" continued with other staff.

From BBC • May 13, 2022

"I did not think that my father would sell or leak the letter, primarily because it would not put him in a good light," she said.

From Reuters • Nov. 10, 2021

The following schedule prepared by Colin A. Scott for the Chicago Public Schools is an excellent means towards this end:— Eye:—Each eye should be examined separately and in a good light.

From Degeneracy Its Causes, Signs and Results by Talbot, Eugene S.