On this show , we talk about expressions that Americans use in every day speech . Today we shine the spotlight on terms that demand our attention . Andy Warhol was an American artist . He was in the limelight of the pop art movement in the 1960s and 1970s . Warhol once said that "everybody will be famous for 15 minutes ." And he said this long before the arrival of social media and YouTube . Today , you can do anything to become famous . Just look at the Kardashian family . Reality television made the Kardashians famous for just being themselves . It helps that nearly every member of the family seems to like being in front of the camera . They have become household names . This terms means exactly as it sounds – names that are well-known in many households . In other words , they are very famous . But enough of the Kardashians ! Let's go back to those terms . Both "limelight " and "spotlight " come from the world of theater . "Spotlight " is easy to understand . Spotlights are the bright lights used in a theatrical production . They shine light on the most important action in a play . It is where people should be looking . For the history of "limelight ," we turn to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary . Its explanation is more interesting . A limelight is a lighting instrument . It was used in theaters to light the front of the stage . The light came from a fire . The fire was directed at a box filled with the mineral lime . Then a lens , a piece of glass , would concentrate the brightness , making the light more intense . Merriam-Webster notes that Thomas Drummond , an engineer , invented limelight in 1816 . He wanted to make boating safer by lighting dark coastlines . But limelight was too dangerous to be used in lighthouses . In fact , it is a wonder that more of those early theaters equipped with limelight did not burn to the ground . When used as a noun , "limelight " and "spotlight " are interchangeable . One word can be used in place of the other . However , "spotlight " is probably the more common term . The big difference is that English speakers use "spotlight " as both a noun and a verb . "Limelight " is only used as a noun . So you could not use "limelight " in these examples . The teacher spotlighted a period of ancient history to his students . While the owner of the company is in town , it is important to spotlight any problem that requires her attention . Now , spotlight and limelight may have both come from the theater , but we use them everywhere . The basketball player stole the limelight from her teammates with her amazing three-point shots . A wealthy businessman did not want to be in the spotlight of the project and chose to remain in the background . Situations , issues and problems can all be spotlighted or can all be in the limelight . Here are two examples : On the campaign trail , the politician's personal scandals were very much in the limelight . To be in the limelight or the spotlight means that you are the object of public attention . You have taken center stage . This is also a theater term . In the theater , the center of the stage is usually a place everyone can see . The actor taking center stage is easy to recognize . However , that does not mean that the actor taking center stage can't be upstaged by another actor . "Upstaged " means to direct attention away from something . People can be upstaged . For example , when two people are married , the bride is supposed to be in the limelight . She often wears a beautiful , white gown . It would be in very poor taste to upstage the bride by wearing something white and even more eye-catching . No one is supposed to upstage the bride ! An issue can also upstage another . For example , let's say the main issue of the parent-teacher meeting was supposed to be raising money for the school . But that issue was upstaged by the discovery that the principal was fired ! All the parents wanted to know more about the scandal ! So , just remember , anything that has been upstaged is no longer center stage . It's no longer in the limelight or spotlight . Have you ever found yourself in the limelight ? Or were you responsible for shining the spotlight on something that needed attention ? Have you ever been upstaged ?