It's Time for Your ‘Day in the Sun’

And now, welcome to Words and Their Stories.

On this show we explore words and expressions in American English. We sometimes explain where they come from. We give examples and notes on usage¹.

Today we talk about that huge, burning star in the sky – the sun!

If you spend all day out in the sun without proper protection, you might get sunburned. But other than that, spending time outdoors in the sun can be a wonderful thing. To feel the sun's rays on your face can feel really good especially for those who have been inside for long periods of time.

And that brings us to today's expression -- to have your day in the sun. We use it a couple of different ways.

When you have your day in the sun, you have achieved the highest possible level of success. You are at your peak. You are having a heyday². You are at your pinnacle³ or zenith of success. These words are all synonyms⁴: They mean nearly the same.

In terms of meaning a period of success, to have a day in the sun can be more specific. It can be a brief period of time when a person becomes very successful or popular compared to the rest of their otherwise not-very-successful or popular life. So, something new has happened to throw them into the spotlight⁵, or rather ... sunlight.

Sometimes these periods of time are much shorter than a day. They last for only a moment. So, with this expression, you can also say "a moment in the sun."

For example, recently many people found their moment in the sun by sharing funny videos on YouTube or Tik Tok.

Sometimes when we use this expression, we do not specify⁶ the amount of time. We simply say, "to have your time in the sun." This usually means the person is young or successful.

For example, once a young man was very successful as a music producer. He was so successful that many people became jealous⁷. But he had worked hard for it. And now, it was simply his time in the sun.

Now, let's hear this expression used in a short conversation.

Hey, did you hear the news? Clara is moving to Chicago! She just accepted a job as vice⁸ president for a Fortune 500 company.

Wow! That IS big news! Good for her. She has been working hard for years now.

She has. It's time she had her moment in the sun.

I think it's going to be longer than a moment. She has always been very ambitious⁹.

Everyone should have their moment in the sun. American artist Andy Warhol famously said that everyone has 15 minutes of fame. Those 15 minutes would be their moments to shine. They would be their moments in the sun. I hope all of our listeners have their day in the sun.

Words in This Story

ray – n. one of the lines of light that you can see coming from an object

peak – n. the highest level or degree of excellence¹⁰, quantity, activity,

heyday – n. the time when someone or something is most successful, popular, etc.

pinnacle – n. the best or most important part of something : the point of greatest success or achievement

zenith – n. the strongest or most successful period of time

spotlight – n. the area of light created by a spotlight

jealous – adj. feeling or showing an unhappy or angry desire to have what someone else has

conversation – n. an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people

ambitious – adj. having a desire to be successful, powerful, or famous

1 usage   

n.惯用法，使用，用法

参考例句：

• I am clear about the usage of this word at last.这个词的用法我算是弄明白了。
• The usage is now firmly established.这种用法现已得到确认。

2 heyday   

n.全盛时期，青春期

参考例句：

• The 19th century was the heyday of steam railways.19世纪是蒸汽机车鼎盛的时代。
• She was a great singer in her heyday.她在自己的黄金时代是个了不起的歌唱家。

3 pinnacle   

n.尖塔，尖顶，山峰；(喻)顶峰

参考例句：

• Now he is at the very pinnacle of his career.现在他正值事业中的顶峰时期。
• It represents the pinnacle of intellectual capability.它代表了智能的顶峰。

4 synonyms   

同义词( synonym的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• If you want to grasp English, you must carefully discriminate synonyms. 如果你想掌握好英语，你必须仔细区分同义词。
• Study the idioms and synonyms l wrote down before your test. 学考试前我给你写的习惯用语和同义字。

5 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

6 specify   

vt.指定，详细说明

参考例句：

• We should specify a time and a place for the meeting.我们应指定会议的时间和地点。
• Please specify what you will do.请你详述一下你将做什么。

7 jealous   

adj.妒忌的，猜忌的；精心守护的

参考例句：

• He was jealous when he discovered that she loved someone else.当他发现她爱别人的时候，他吃醋了。
• An honorable Chinese citizen should be jealous of his own rights.一名光荣的中国公民应当珍惜自己的公民权利。

8 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

9 ambitious   

adj.有雄心的，劲头十足的，有野心的

参考例句：

• One may be poor but never ceases to be ambitious.人穷志不穷。
• He is an ambitious young man full of enthusiasm and vitality.他是个充满热情与活力的有远大抱负的青年。

10 excellence   

n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德

参考例句：

• His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
• My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。