Episode 308: In the Limelight

This week Shauna and Dan explore what it means to be "in the limelight". Bonus: Chemical Reactions, Chess Masters, and Cerebral 70's Lyrics

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Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast 
Episode 308: In the Limelight
Record Date: February 14, 2026 
Air Date: February 18, 2026

Intro

Dan:
Welcome to Bunny Trails, a whimsical adventure of idioms and other turns of phrase. 

I’m Dan Pugh

Shauna:
And I’m Shauna Harrison

Each week we take an idiom or other turn of phrase and try to tell the story from its entry into the English language, to how it’s used today. 

Opening Hook
Whether you’ve just taken a bow after a live performance or found yourself at the center of some strange twist of circumstance that suddenly has everyone watching, attention has a way of arriving without much warning. And when it does, you may discover you’re standing squarely in the limelight.

Meaning
Cambridge Dictionary tells us,

Quote
Someone who is in the limelight gets a lot of public attention and interest.
End quote
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/in-the-limelight 

It’s a fairly straightforward idea. But it often implies something a little different than merely getting a lot of public attention. It also carries the weight of what typically goes along with that attention - being constantly watched, adored, and even scrutinized. 

1837
Limelight was a real thing. It was a bright, white light produced through a process of burning chemicals at high heat. The method for producing the limelight itself was developed in the early 1820s. But it didn’t take long to make it to the stage. 

In the 2025 History.com article Where did the phrase “in the limelight” come from?, writer Elizabeth Nix explains some of the history.

Quote
The origins of “in the limelight,” which refers to being the focus of public attention, are linked to a type of stage lighting that was popular in the 19th century. The “lime” in limelight has nothing to do with the green citrus fruit but rather with a chemical compound, calcium oxide, also known as quicklime.
…
In 1837, limelight was used for the first time to illuminate a stage, at London’s Covent Garden. During the second half of the 19th century, theaters regularly utilized this powerful form of light, which could be focused into a beam to spotlight specific actors or an area of the stage, as well as create special effects such as sunlight or moonlight.
End quote
www.history.com/articles/where-did-the-phrase-in-the-limelight-come-from 

The technology was used prior to stage-lighting for surveying and other things that would not have been very well-known amongst the general population. But putting limelight centerstage - literally - thrust it into the knowledge of the populace. 

The physical limelight didn’t stick around for long. It was somewhat tedious and turned out to be a bit of a fire hazard. Cue the invention of other forms of light emission - a.k.a. electricity - and literal limelight was almost entirely removed from practical use for theatres by the end of the 1800s. 

Because we’re nerds here… we’re going to learn more about this process and what happened to limelight during our behind the scenes video which you can find each Friday on our Patreon. That’s patreon.com/BunnyTrailsPod.

For the next several decades, the phrase was used primarily to discuss individuals who were truly in the limelight on stage and also their figurative lives in the limelight. 

1898
Nearing the end of the 1800s, the phrase made its way to politics and broader world concepts, used to describe the individual experience as well as that of groups. Here is one example from The Jewish South, out of Richmond, Virginia, dated April 15, 1898. 

Quote
Perhaps, too, this incessant and intolerable agitation for and against the Jew might in this way to some extent abate. In this regard we cannot but indorse the views of the London Jewish Chronicle when it states: 

"We do not flinch from criticism ; but for centuries we have been paraded on the public stage, standing in the limelight with the glasses of the audience turned full upon us. We are growing weary of these endless microscopic examinations and tired of the blaze and glare of the footlights…”
End quote
https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn94051168/1898-04-15/ed-1/?sp=5&q=in+the+limelight&r=-0.126,0.023,1.284,0.728,0 

This is a theme that still exists today. We can see that the phrase is used figuratively and no explanation is provided. At this point, it is expected that everyone knows the meaning. 

1915
Only a few years later, we see it in sports commentary in the March 18, 1915 edition of the Bogalusa enterprise, out of Louisiana. Here is an excerpt from the article titled, Let’s Have the Best Ball Team in State Here, 

Quote
Bogalusa is almost daily in the limelight, for some good reason or other, one day a new enterprise, another day enlargement of some other, still another day creating a new record for lumber production, shipments, etc. 
End quote
https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn88064054/1915-03-18/ed-1/?sp=7&q=in+the+limelight&r=-0.021,0.048,1.246,0.707,0 

The article goes on, however, to discuss that this time, it’s in the limelight thanks to the younger generation of baseballers taking charge and leading the team, putting new life and focus into the team’s efforts. It’s not often that youth are praised in newspapers. So that was fun to see. 

1939
Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina had a busy week leading up to April 20, 1939 which was recorded in the Roanoke Rapids herald. The title of the front page article states that the city is on the news map. It then gives a list of big events which include 3 deaths and a baseball game with the tagline - In Limelight! Here is the introduction to the story, 

Quote
Roanoke Rapids has been in the limelight of the entire state this week so far as sensational news is concerned, and the never-failing eye of the Herald’s camera-man bring you a bunch of “exclusives” in this issue. 
End quote 
https://www.loc.gov/resource/2017236974/1939-04-20/ed-1/?sp=1&q=in+the+limelight&r=0.078,0.654,0.957,0.543,0 

There was a mix here of happy and sad news with an accidental death that required the draining of a canal, which resulted in the discovery of two unrelated deaths that were not accidental. All of that was followed up with the feel-good story of local children’s clubs delivering gifts to two baseball teams during their big game. So a little bit of an emotional roller coaster in that one. 

1953
The Southern Jewish weekly, out of Jacksonville, Florida, dated September 11, 1953, featured an article titled, Reshevsky Back in World Chess Limelight. Here is a snippet, 

Quote
Samuel Reshevsky is back in the limelight. Russia's refusal to permit the Soviet chess team to come to the United States and play and Reshevsky's anxiety to meet them created an issue which revived interest in the famous Jewish chess wizard.
End quote
https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn78000090/1953-09-11/ed-1/?sp=153&q=in+the+limelight&r=-0.091,0.109,0.97,0.55,0 

I love this excerpt. The chess scene became globally popular for quite awhile and resurges in popularity even today. Many people know the names of a few chess masters from history, despite sometimes viewing chess as a less-than-cool activity. 

Up next we’ll look at how the phrase is used today, but first, a quick thank you to our sponsors

A Quick Thank You
Dan:
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Modern Uses

1981
Let’s start these modern items with Rush’s 1981 song ‘Limelight’ which uses the phrase in an ironic way. It was written by Neil Peart as he reflected on fame. The song describes being on a lighted stage as something almost unreal - exciting, but also isolating and filled with pressure. There’s a lyric that says he can’t pretend a stranger is a long‑awaited friend, showing how the glare of attention can make human connection feel hollow.

The song focuses on ‘limelight’ meaning more than just being seen, but of being watched, and the emotional toll that puts on a person. 
https://youtu.be/ZiRuj2_czzw?si=ecB6eDiH5AZ6wNHE 
https://www.rush.com/songs/limelight/  

2017
“Afterlife in the Limelight” is a song from the animated web series Inanimate Insanity, featured in the episode “Kick the Bucket.” It appears on Inanimate Insanity: The Official Soundtrack, Vol. 1, released July 26, 2017.

The song follows characters who have left a competitive world. While they were competing, they experienced connection and a sense of being “more alive”, and then suddenly, they feel empty without that experience. Limelight, in the song, is presented as more than just attention - it involves the expectation and pressure of that attention, as well as insecurity after it’s ended.

Lines about being:
Quote
so alive back then
End Quote

Followed by:
Quote
now it all just feels so small
End quote 

Highlight that sense of loss and let-down. That idea is further cemented in the line, 

Quote
it isn’t really living at all
End quote
https://youtu.be/6jAbbY4Z7lw?si=w8NdOJEDzYPFxtLb 
https://inanimateinsanity.fandom.com/wiki/Afterlife_in_The_Limelight  

That experience isn’t unique to this group. It’s a common feeling that follows highly-emotional or stressful circumstances. The end of a live performance, coming home after battle, following a major disaster, or the end of a big event or accomplishment. It even happens after vacation for many. 

I thought this was a really interesting use of the phrase. 

2020
In The Limelight: The Visual Ecstasy of NYC Nightlife in the 90s
by Steve Eichner and Gabriel Sanchez is a photo documentary book of New York City nightlife in the 1990s. 

It features never-before-seen images from Steve Eichner, who is considered a fixture in the city’s club scene. The book captures the glitter, costumes, music, and energy of nightclubs like the Limelight, Webster Hall, and the Tunnel. Celebrities and regular partygoers are seen in spaces where nightlife culture thrived and for some, was the focus of their daily life.

Historical and cultural context are provided through some accompanying text. It describes how nightlife was a mix of performance, visibility, and social spectacle. These individuals experienced the peak of being in the limelight with all of the attention, energy, and scrutiny, and where everyone’s presence was seen and judged. 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/3791386816 

For many, that was an unknown world but the people who were a big part of the nightlife culture were known in popular culture - sometimes simply because they were popular in the club scene. 

2026
In Andrew Keenan-Bolger’s 2026 YA novel Limelight, we follow Danny Victorio, a teen stepping into the intense world of Manhattan’s arts schools. The title captures both the literal stage spotlight and the emotional ‘limelight’ - the pressure and scrutiny that come with being visible and judged. It’s a modern, personal take on the phrase: being in the limelight isn’t just about fame, it’s about standing out, facing expectations, and finding your place in a world that’s watching
https://www.amazon.com/Limelight-Andrew-Keenan-Bolger/dp/059388924X/ref=asc_df_059388924X?tag=bngsmtphsnus-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=79852232892695&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=86977&hvtargid=pla-4583451697380076&psc=1&msclkid=4daeca7c808312c7e717a3f42f1a9587 

Current
Limelight Agency SPS is a full-service artist management and distribution agency. They handle career management, gallery relations, marketing, pricing, show schedules, and global distribution for visual artists. 

The agency represents a number of artists such as Stephen Holland who is known for creating incredible portraits of sports figures - Mike Trout, for example - as well as action scenes. Their representation isn’t limited to sports-related art. Over all, the artists they represent create work that often intersects with pop culture and celebrity subjects which includes sports, music, and cultural figures.
https://www.limelightagency.com/index.html 

Current
Also in the art world but in a completely different modality… According to their website, 

Quote
Limelight is an internationally awarded and world record breaking digital art design studio. We specialize in producing custom light art installations, including projection mapping and immersive experiences, for unforgettable moments at any scale.
End quote
https://www.limelight.art/ 

If that sounds familiar, think of those light designs that are projected onto large buildings or the 3D and immersive experiences that are found at many museums or traveling exhibits. There is a chance the ones you’ve seen were created by the Limelight crew. Their website has quite a few videos and photos of their pieces so you can take a look for yourself. 

Wrap-Up:
“In the limelight” is a phrase that feels a little glamorous on the surface… bright, exciting, full of attention… but the more we look at it, the more complicated it becomes. Whether it’s fame, pressure, performance, or simply visibility, being in the limelight isn’t just about being a star… it’s about being seen. And maybe that’s why the phrase has lasted… because most of us, at some point, have stepped into our own version of that light. It can be fun to be in the limelight for a few minutes. But it’s also nice to go back to the safe, comfortable lighting of a more relaxed daily life. 

Shauna:
That’s about all we have for today. If you have any thoughts on the show, or pop culture references we should have included, reach out to us on Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod, or comment on our website, bunnytrailspod.com

Poll question 

Dan:

It’s poll time! 

Recently we asked our Patrons: You went viral online! Why?

We gave some basic examples, like:
A powerful and emotional personal story that resonates with people
You accidentally did something incredibly awkward that people loved
A meme you created that everyone couldn’t stop sharing
A life hack that completely changed the way people do something simple.
Your pet doing something ridiculously adorable

Jan shared: 
Quote 
It’s most likely going to be a weird recipe. 
End Quote

Allan said: 
Quote
I'm pretty awkward. I think that's the only one that's even remotely possible for me.
End Quote

Shauna: 
Well, I’m in the same boat as Allan generally… I actually did have a meme - of sorts - that kind of went viral. On platforms like Instagram and tiktok, you can upload sounds separately to be used to add to content. Awhile back, there was this clip from a TV show based on a podcast I enjoy in which, one of three brothers says in a very deadpan voice: 

Quote
I am very uncomfortable with the energy we’ve created in the studio today. 
End quote
https://youtu.be/WnXsnmL8jYs?si=XRaNge37tluvtIMP 

I saved the sound to add to a video of my own that I never ended up posting. But the sound bite was automatically added to the library of sounds on tiktok… and had been used a couple thousand times before I turned off my account. I didn’t create the original sound and I’m sure a million copies have been uploaded since. So it’s not really my claim-to-fame. But probably the closest I’ll ever get. 

Dan: 
My meme's are only funny to a small group of people who are part of my many, many inside jokes, which means I’ll never go viral for that. I’d probably go viral for a lifehack. But it will be something I didn’t realize I was doing differently than most people. Like people will be so surprised by how I wash dishes or weed the garden or something. Though it would be my preference to never go viral at all. 

As a reminder, our silly polls mean absolutely nothing and are not scientifically valid. And patrons of all levels, including our free tiers, can take part. Head over to patreon.com/bunnytrailspod to take this week’s poll!

Outro

Dan:
Thanks for joining us. We’ll talk to you again next week. Until then remember, 

Together:
Words belong to their users.