# legend in one's own lunchtime

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/legend-in-ones-own-lunchtime
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

One whose fame is insignificant, fleeting or imaginary.

## Examples

- He thinks he is a legend in his own lunchtime.
- She acts like a legend in her own lunchtime after winning one small race.
- You are becoming a legend in your own lunchtime with these tall stories.
- The new manager acts like a superstar, but the staff just calls him a legend in his own lunchtime.
- The local singer behaves like a global celebrity, but he is just a legend in his own lunchtime at the neighborhood pub.
- My cousin claims to be a master chef, though he is really just a legend in his own lunchtime who rarely cooks for others.
- Despite his grandiose claims of industry influence, his peers dismissed him as a mere legend in his own lunchtime, known only to a small circle of sycophants.

## Origin

The expression appeared as a playful variation of the phrase legend in one's own lifetime. It substitutes the span of a man's biological existence for the duration of his midday meal, suggesting a reputation that is both confined to the local pub and unlikely to survive the walk back to the office.

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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.