15 minutes of fame

A brief period of celebrity or notoriety. The term was coined by artist Andy Warhol. Jane had her 15 minutes of fame when she appeared on the nightly news broadcast. That viral video gave Sam his 15 minutes of fame. I've seen what celebrity does to people, so I'm really not interested in getting 15 minutes of fame.

claim to fame

The reason why someone or something is famous or well-known. I've heard that name before—what's his claim to fame? Jeff's big claim to fame is being on that reality show for one episode. She calls herself an actress, but her so-called "claim to fame" is, like, two episodes of a soap opera.

See also: claim, fame, to

destined for (something)

Likely to do, receive, or become something in the future. We knew that Sean was destined for greatness the moment he stepped on the stage in his first play. If you didn't study for your exam, then you are destined for failure. If you ask me, that boy is destined for trouble if he keeps hanging out with such a rough crowd.

herostratic fame

Fame pursued through destructive acts or misdeeds. Refers to Herostratus, a 4th-century Greek who burned down the second Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, in order to become famous. That serial killer owned up to his crimes because he wants his name and manifesto known by the world. Herostratic fame at its finest. It's wild to me how many people are OK with herostratic fame. They're so desperate to be known that they don't care who they hurt in the process. No, I wasn't looking for herostratic fame! I swear, the fire was an accident, not arson.

house of ill repute

euphemism A place where prostitutes are available for hire; a brothel. Please don't tell me that the media got a picture of the senator leaving a house of ill repute over the weekend. Though obviously in decline in recent years, houses of ill repute can still be found in the seedier parts of the city. A: "I've heard rumblings that Tom's new girlfriend used to work at a house of ill repute." B: "Whoa! Does he know that?"

What price (something)?

A question indicating one's doubt that an achievement is or was worth the cost in terms of the problems it has led to or the sacrifices that it required. Most commonly seen in the phrase "What price fame?" When you have to have a security detail just to go to the grocery store, you have to ask: What price fame? What price wealth, when you sell out everything you believe in along the way?

house of ill repute

and house of ill fame

Euph. a house of prostitution. The sign says "Health Club," but everyone knows it's a house of ill repute. He made a lot of money by running a house of ill fame.

someone's claim to fame

someone's reason for being well-known or famous. Her claim to fame is that she can recite the entire works of Shakespeare.

See also: claim, fame, to

a claim to fame

COMMON A person or place's claim to fame is something quite important or interesting that they have done or that is connected with them. Barbara Follett's greatest claim to fame is that she taught Labour MPs how to look good on television. The town's ancient castle was its main claim to fame.

See also: claim, fame, to

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

claim to fame

a reason for being regarded as unusual or noteworthy (often used when the reason cited is comical, bizarre, or trivial).

See also: claim, fame, to

what price —?

1 used to ask what has become of something or to suggest that something has or would become worthless. 2 used to state that something seems unlikely.

1 1991 New Scientist What price modern medicine with its reliance on the prescription pad, and the slavish devotion to pills?

ˌclaim to ˈfame

(often humorous) one thing that makes a person or place important or interesting: His main claim to fame is that he went to school with the President.

See also: claim, fame, to

claim to fame, one's

A characteristic for which a person or thing is particularly noted. For example, describing a bridge player who won several big titles, Alan Truscott wrote, “He had three other claims to fame. His friends knew him as an extraordinary raconteur, and . . . he was addicted to opening the bidding in a three-card major suit and perpetrated outrageous psychic bids” (New York Times, April 13, 2000). This twentieth-century cliché undoubtedly owes its popularity to its rhyme.