steal the show

Idioms

Also, steal the spotlight. Be the center of attention, as in The speeches were interesting but Eliza's singing stole the show. This idiom alludes to unexpectedly outshining the rest of the cast in a theatrical production. [First half of 1900s]

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.

See Examples For:

steal the show

Though Jason and his Argonauts get top billing in the 1963 B-movie classic, it’s Ray Harryhausen’s sword-wielding troop of the undead that steal the show.

From Salon ● Sep. 4, 2026

It's supposed to be a TV series about Los Angeles' biggest and most beautiful homes - but the people selling them often steal the show.

From BBC ● Dec. 5, 2025

Taking a beat—30 seconds, three minutes—lets the previous role make its exit, so the next one can make its entrance and steal the show.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2025

Skip the A5 Wagyu katsu sando and dive straight into the seafood: oysters topped with uni and Hokkaido scallop sashimi steal the show.

From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2025

The places of worships, priests, charitable institutions and social organisations get profuse patronage from such people who literally steal the show wielding money.

From Truth and the Myth : Couplets quips by A. R. Narayanan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023