–Take center stage | Image by wirestock on Freepik
Context
NBC NewsThe Rockefeller Plaza in New York City was a sight to behold on November 29, with an 80-foot-tall Norway Spruce taking center stage. It is adorned with about 50,000 lights, and its 900-pound star contains about 3 million crystals. Artists including Kelly Clarkson and Keke Palmer participated in the ceremony. After the holidays, the tree will be donated to Habitat for Humanity to be used for building homes.
Explanations and Usages
The phrase “take center stage” is an idiom that means to be in the main or most important position, often referring to someone or something becoming the focus of attention or taking a prominent role in a situation or event.
Imagine a stage where actors perform. When someone “takes center stage,” it means they move to the middle of that stage, where everyone’s attention is focused. Similarly, in real life, when something takes center stage, it becomes the main focus or the most important aspect of a situation or event.
For example, in a school play, if the lead actor suddenly performs exceptionally well and grabs everyone’s attention, we can say, “The lead actor took center stage with their amazing performance.” In this context, it means the actor became the main focus or highlight of the play.
In everyday situations, this phrase is used when something or someone becomes the most important or prominent aspect of a scenario. It’s often used in discussions about events, situations, or even discussions when one element becomes notably more important or prominent than others, just like the lead actor in a play taking the central spot on the stage.
Examples
- In the highly anticipated history debate, Sarah’s articulate and well-researched argument took center stage, commanding attention and steering the discussion.
- Amidst the school assembly, as various presentations unfolded, the one delivered by Professor Johnson about space exploration, which included detailed explanations and engaging visuals, took center stage, captivating the audience and leaving a lasting impression.
–Education
- U.S. stocks declined for the third time in four days as health care companies took center stage on Tuesday.
- Top luxury labels note that within China, consumers from ‘Gen Z,’ aged in their late teens and early 20s, are swiftly taking center stage, with the average shopper age notably younger than in any other global market.
–Business
- While smartwatches from Michael Kors and Fossil took center stage, the company’s hybrid watch lineup also gained traction.
With the proliferation of App stores and cloud-centric software, smart devices are rapidly taking a backseat as the Apps themselves take center stage, becoming the focal point of attention and importance.
–Technology
- In recent years, climate change has overwhelmingly taken center stage in the environmental discourse.
While the captivating subjects of black holes, white dwarfs, and dark matter often took center stage, the exploration of each was fundamentally driven by the human quest to understand the unknown.
–Science
- “Everything Everywhere All at Once” brought the Asian and Asian American presence to the forefront, causing it to take center stage in both Hollywood and world cinema.
- At the Berlin International Film Festival this year, a collection of coming-of-age movies curated by actors and filmmakers worldwide has put nostalgia in the spotlight as it takes center stage in a retrospective series.
–Arts and Culture
