IT IS COMMON to hear the phrase "in the limelight" being used to describe someone who is the focus of public attention.
For example, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can be said to be "in the limelight" due to his important role in our country.
But does this phrase have anything to do with actual limelight?
VERDICT:
TRUE.
In the 1820s, English chemist Goldsworthy Gurney discovered limelight after burning hydrogen and oxygen to produce a small, high-temperature flame.
The flame emitted a strong white light when it was directed towards calcium oxide, which is a chemical compound more commonly known as quicklime.
In 1837, limelight was used for the first time to illuminate a stage at Covent Garden, an entertainment hub in London and in the second half of the 19th century, limelight was being used regularly by theatres to focus on specific performers on stage.
It was also used regularly to create special effects such as sunlight and moonlight.
Over time, being "in the limelight" became synonymous with being the centre of attention or in the spotlight.
This eventually gave rise to the expression as we know it today.
Sources:
https://www.history.com/news/where-did-the-phrase-in-the-limelight-come-from
https://blog.ansi.org/limelight-origin-quicklime-illumination-history/#gref
