to the fore
Into the spotlight
To the fore means into a position of prominence or visibility.
What was background moves forward: The scandal brought ethical questions to the fore.
In British and Irish English, to the fore also means present or available: He was to the fore when volunteers were needed.
The phrase echoes nautical and military usage, where fore means the front.
- front and centerProminent central position
- take center stageBecome the main attraction
- limelightCenter of public notice
- spotlightConcentrated illumination source
- vanguardForemost position or group
leading edge · surfacing · debut · make a splash · lead · unveiling · come to light · advance · emerge · break through · manifestation · take the lead · out in front · pioneering · rise · foregrounding · ascendancy · emphasis
to the forein the background
in the shadows · behind the scenes · out of sight · in the wings · under the radar
to the foreon the back burner
Low priority, delayed
sidelined · marginalized · deprioritized · secondary · peripheral
before, forecast, foremost, beforehand, fore, foresight, forefront, forerunner, foreword