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

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

But it is the Xi-Trump meeting in South Korea on Thursday that will steal the show.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2025

The rain tried to steal the show in Colombo but it could not overshadow South Africa.

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2025

Gonzo wants to perform a stunt, Miss Piggy aims to steal the show, and Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem fail to get the band back together.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2025

The foodmakers would emerge from the kitchens and steal the show in their performance of taste appeal, warm odors, rare dishes....

From The Genius by Con Pederson

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