claim (redirected from claims)

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: fame

claim something for someone or something

to declare rights to or control of something for someone, or that something is the property of someone, a group, or a nation. The small country claimed the mountainous area for itself. Roger claimed all the rest of the ice cream for himself.

claim something for something

to make a claim for money in payment for damages. David claimed one thousand dollars for the damaged car. She claimed a lot of money for the amount of harm she experienced.

claim a life

Fig. [for something] to take the life of someone. The killer tornado claimed the lives of six people at the trailer park. The athlete's life was claimed in a skiing accident.

See also: life

equate

someone to someone else and equate something to something else to claim that someone is in some manner the same as someone else; to claim that something is in some manner the same as something else. I would equate Tom to Wallywhen it comes to native ability. You cannot equate my car to that jalopy you drive!

See also: equate

lay claim to something

to place a claim on something. Do you really think you can lay claim to that money after all these years? Someone came by and laid claim to the wallet you found.

See also: lay

stake a claim to someone or something

Fig. to state or record one's claim on someone or something. (Alludes to marking off an area by pounding in wooden stakes.) she staked a claim to Jeff and told all her rivals to stay away. The prospector staked a claim to the gold-rich area.

See also: stake

stake out a claim to something and stake out a claim on something

to lay claim to something. The prospector staked out a claim to the promising piece of land. We staked out a claim on two seats at the side of the auditorium.

See also: out, stake

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somebody's claim to fame

a reason for a person or place to be well known or famous The town's main claim to fame is that the President was born here. (humorous) His only claim to fame is that he nearly met Princess Diana.

See stake a/ claim

See also: fame

stake a/your claim

to make it clear that you want something, and that you think you deserve to get it (often + to ) Descendants of the original settlers are going to court to stake their claim to the land. In order to stake a claim for world prominence in astronomy, the university is building a huge new optical telescope.

See also: stake

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somebody's claim to fame

the reason why someone is famous Chan's claim to fame is that he does his own stunts in his movies.

Usage notes: sometimes used of places: The restaurant is Philadelphia's latest claim to fame.

See also: fame

stake a claim (to something) also stake your claim (to something)

to show that you believe something is yours In recent years, several big stores have staked a claim to the wealthy shoppers in this area. Stevens has staked a claim to a new brand of techno music with a series of exciting concerts.

Etymology: from the idea of marking land that is not owned by someone with stakes (pointed sticks) to show it is yours

See also: stake

stake a claim (to something)

to announce that something belongs to you Every kind of group you can think of has staked a claim to space on the Internet.

Usage notes: also used in the form stake your claim: He staked his claim as a liberal.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of stake a claim (to mark with posts a piece of land belonging to the government that you claim for yourself)

See also: stake