ENGLISH
REFERENCE

live in the shadow of

idiom
Meaning

To be overshadowed one's entire life, especially by a relative or predecessor.


Examples
SIMPLE

He lives in the shadow of his famous father.

CONTEXTUAL

The young athlete struggled to find his own identity while living in the shadow of his brother's Olympic success.

COMPLEX

Throughout her long career in the arts, she constantly felt she was living in the shadow of her mother's legendary reputation as a painter.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    afraid of one's own shadow

    Exceptionally timid.

  2. 02

    cast a shadow

    To dampen future events.

  3. 03

    live a lie

    To conceal something about oneself, without the knowledge of which others cannot know one's true character or perspective.

  4. 04

    live and die by

    Be completely reliant upon.

  5. 05

    live and let live

    To be tolerant; to enjoy the pleasures and opportunities which life offers and to allow others to do the same.

  6. 06

    live beyond one's means

    Have a lifestyle where one's spending regularly exceeds one's income.

  7. 07

    live down

    To cause others to forget about something embarrassing that happened to oneself.

  8. 08

    live in sin

    To cohabit as if husband and wife without being married.

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