Steal the Show

A theatre phrase with a surprisingly undocumented backstory. It's widely assumed to come from the world of the stage, where a scene-stealing performer draws focus away from whoever the scene was supposed to be about, and it dates from around the first half of the 1900s, as theatre productions grew larger and more elaborate. But no single documented moment of coining survives, and no one has pinned down exactly which production or performer first inspired it. It has since spread well beyond the stage, used just as often for a standout moment in sport, business, or an unexpectedly show-stealing guest at a wedding.