Fame: English Vocabulary List

used to describe someone or something that attracts a great deal of public attention

"She lives in the public eye."

"Famous politicians must be careful about their behaviour because they are constantly in the public eye."

a well-known or influential person, especially in a specific field or industry

"The band is a big name in jazz."

"The band is a big name in jazz and has performed at festivals all over the world."

someone or something that manages to attract a lot of attention and popularity for a short period of time

"She is the flavor of the month in Hollywood."

"That social media platform is just the flavor of the month and will probably be forgotten by next year."

to experience a sudden rise to fame and glory

"She really hit the big time."

"After years of struggling, the band finally hit the big time with their third album."

to become well-known or respected in a particular field or area through one's achievements or actions

"He made a name for himself as a chef."

"He hopes to make a name for himself as a musician by playing at local venues and festivals."

to reach a great level of fame and success

"She always wanted to make it big."

"He moved to Hollywood hoping to make it big as an actor but ended up driving a taxi instead."

to make a person, place, or thing widely known, often for the first time

"This win put our town on the map."

"The discovery of gold in this small town put it on the map and attracted many visitors."

to prove someone's innocence or remove suspicion surrounding someone's reputation

"He fought hard to clear his name."

"The accused man spent years trying to clear his name after being wrongly convicted of a crime he did not commit."

something or someone that is currently the subject of a lot of gossip and discussion among the people in a particular community or social circle

"The new couple is the talk of the town."

"The celebrity wedding was the talk of the town for weeks after it happened."

to take action or make a statement in order to avoid embarrassment, humiliation, or loss of respect

"He lied to save face in front of his friends."

"He apologized publicly to save face after his mistake was exposed by the newspaper."

someone or something that receives a lot of attention by the public

"The actress loves being in the spotlight."

"The young actress enjoys being in the spotlight and loves giving interviews and appearing on television shows."

to undo or reverse something that has already been said or done, particularly when it is impossible to truly forget or ignore its impact or consequences

"You cannot unring the bell after speaking."

"You cannot unring a bell once the secret is out it is impossible to take it back."

someone who is important or influential within a small or limited group, but who may not be as significant or well-known in a larger context

"He's a big fish."

"While he's a big fish in a small pond at his local club, he's relatively unknown in the national sporting arena."

to be highly successful and popular

"At age twenty, she had the world at her feet."

"After graduating from university with top marks she had the world at her feet and many job offers."