# grandstand play

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/grandstand-play
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A successful play or other manoeuvre during a sporting competition in which one or more players shows off unnecessarily in order to entertain or impress the spectators.

## Examples

- The player made a grandstand play to impress the crowd.
- The striker ignored his open teammate to attempt a risky grandstand play that failed to score.
- While the fans cheered for his flashy grandstand play, the coach remained frustrated by the athlete's decision to prioritize ego over team strategy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.