Toolkit 1: Fame & Public Image

a household name

a person, brand, or thing almost everyone knows

(Natural use: famous people, brands, artists)

__ is basically a household name in __.

in the limelight

receiving public attention

(Natural use: celebrities and entertainers)

__ has been in the limelight for years, but he/she still seems quite grounded.

in the public eye

often watched or discussed by the public

(Natural use: celebrities, politicians, business leaders)

Being in the public eye means __ is always closely watched by the media.

up-and-coming

becoming popular or successful

(Natural use: young artists, actors, brands, businesses)

I first noticed __ when he/she was still an up-and-coming __.

under the radar

not receiving much attention yet

(Natural use: underrated people or products)

__ used to fly under the radar, but now he/she/it is everywhere.

hit the big time

become very successful or famous

(Natural use: spoken and idiomatic)

__ really hit the big time after __.

take the world by storm

become extremely popular very quickly

(Natural use: global stars, trends, films, songs)

| __ took the world by storm with __.

all the rage

very popular or fashionable now

(Natural use: trends, fashion, music, apps)

Right now, __ is/are all the rage among young people.

a one-hit wonder

successful once but not repeatedly

(Natural use: singers, films, products)

Many people thought __ would just be a one-hit wonder, but they proved them wrong.

stay grounded

remain humble despite success

(Natural use: personality description)

Despite all the sudden fame, __ manages to stay grounded.

rags to riches

from poverty/hardship to wealth and success

(Natural use: inspiring life stories)

His/Her journey is a classic rags to riches story.

call the shots

be in control and make decisions

(Natural use: successful people, leaders, companies)

At this point, he/she can probably call the shots and choose the projects he/she truly cares about.