in the spotlight
1. Literally positioned in a beam of light, typically while performing onstage. The director assured me that I would be in the spotlight for my solo. No, I'm not trying out for the talent show—I don't want to be in the spotlight! Will you go onstage and read my poem for me? I really hate being in the spotlight.
2. The center of attention. My sister loves being in the spotlight, but I get really nervous on stage. Once news of this scandal breaks, our company will be in the spotlight for months. That senator seems to have no problem being in the spotlight, even if it's for negative reasons.
under the spotlight
The center of attention. Once news of this scandal breaks, our company will be under the spotlight for months.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
in the spotlight
1. Fig. in the beam of a spotlight, as on a stage. The singer was in the spotlight but the band was almost in the dark.
2. and in the limelight Fig. at the center of attention. (Limelight refers to an obsolete type of spotlight, and the word occurs only in this phrase.) John will do almost anything to get himself into the limelight. I love being in the spotlight. All elected officials spend a lot of time in the limelight.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.