claim (redirected from statements of claim)

someone'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. His only claim to fame is that he nearly met Princess Diana. (humorous)

See also: fame

stake a/your claim

to make it clear that you want something, and that you think you deserve to get it. Descendants of the original settlers are going to court to stake their claim to the land. (often + to) 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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someone'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)

1. 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.

2. 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: 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