claim to fame, one's
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.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
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.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
claim to fame
a reason for being regarded as unusual or noteworthy (often used when the reason cited is comical, bizarre, or trivial).Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
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.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
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.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer