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up in lights

English translation: in the spotlight/public eye

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:up in lights
Selected answer:in the spotlight/public eye
Entered by: S.J

18:44 Feb 13, 2021
English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / up in lights
English term or phrase: up in lights
On the field and up in lights, Australians punch above their weight, proving themselves on the world stage.

The field refers to athletes, "up in lights" is synchronized with a picture of people performing on a stage.

Thanks in advance,
S.J
Canada
Local time: 12:52
in the spotlight/public eye
Explanation:
Hence the picture of people on a stage.

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/name in lights

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Note added at 37 mins (2021-02-13 19:21:54 GMT)
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Depending on the wider context, it could refer to entertainers or anyone who achieves international prominence.
Selected response from:

philgoddard
United States
Grading comment
Thank you,
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +3in the spotlight/public eye
philgoddard
4 -1seeing on'e name in lights
Yvonne Gallagher


  

Answers


24 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
in the spotlight/public eye


Explanation:
Hence the picture of people on a stage.

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/name in lights

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 37 mins (2021-02-13 19:21:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Depending on the wider context, it could refer to entertainers or anyone who achieves international prominence.

philgoddard
United States
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 119
Grading comment
Thank you,

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Cilian O'Tuama: Yes, it's about people up in lights, not their names. It sure helps if you can read. LOL.
5 hrs
agree  David Hollywood: get's my vote
8 hrs
agree  Tony M: It's a little odd, though I would have understood it more easily if the people had been in a boxing ring rather than on a theatre stage; perhaps it is referring also to actors like Mel Gibson, Nicole Kidman, etc.
13 hrs
  -> Yes, it is slightly odd. Thanks.
agree  Brent Sørensen
16 hrs
disagree  Yvonne Gallagher: notwithstanding all the agrees, this doesn't mean "in the spotlight" Just noticed you actually gave the right definition of "name in lights"!! //I never said "in the field"?? Read again.
19 hrs
  -> You've suggested "On the field and seeing one's name in lights", which is meaningless. "One's" is especially jarring.
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53 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
seeing on'e name in lights


Explanation:
whether outside a theatre or an arena or on the giant display scoreboard in an arena or stadium

means being famous or popular

https://www.oysterenglish.com/idiom-ones-name-in-lights.html





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Note added at 54 mins (2021-02-13 19:38:53 GMT)
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typo
seeing your/ one's name in lights

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Note added at 55 mins (2021-02-13 19:39:49 GMT)
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so your name is literally up in lights

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Note added at 1 day 17 hrs (2021-02-15 12:09:59 GMT)
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what name in lights looks like on a cinema marquee
https://www.google.com/search?q=cinema marquee sign&rlz=1C1C...

or on electroonic scoreboard
https://www.google.com/search?q=electronic scoreboard olympi...


Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 17:52
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 659

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Cilian O'Tuama: On the field and seeing one's name in lights? Doesn't really make sense. Seems more about when Aussies play sport (field) or perform in public view (in the lights), they tend to do better than you'd normally expect.//There's no mention of "name" in the ST
7 hrs
  -> This is what this expression means IF you care to look at the definition. Your rambling explanation makes no sense: "perform in the lights"? LOL//I never said "on the field"??/disagree totally unwarranted
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