the secondary overshadows the primary; to steal the show
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
(of a guest) to outtalk one's host; (figurative) for the secondary or external to encroach upon the primary or original
Often used to criticize situations where supporting elements or outsiders improperly dominate the main subject or host.
Hūn婚
lǐ礼
shàng上
bàn伴
niáng娘
chuān穿
de得
bǐ比
xīn新
niáng娘
hái还
piào漂
liang亮
，
yǒu有
xiē些
xuān喧
bīn宾
duó夺
zhǔ主
le了
。
The bridesmaid dressed more beautifully than the bride at the wedding, somewhat stealing the show.
Zhuāng装
shì饰
wù物
bù不
yào要
tài太
duō多
，
fǒu否
zé则
huì会
xuān喧
bīn宾
duó夺
zhǔ主
，
yǐng影
xiǎng响
zhěng整
tǐ体
xiào效
guǒ果
。
Don't use too many decorations, or they will overshadow the main subject and affect the overall effect.
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Zài在
zhè这
cì次
yán研
tǎo讨
huì会
shàng上
，
tè特
yāo邀
jiā嘉
bīn宾
fā发
yán言
shí时
jiān间
guò过
cháng长
，
xiǎn显
de得
xuān喧
bīn宾
duó夺
zhǔ主
。
At this seminar, the invited guest spoke for too long, appearing to usurp the host's role.
Bèi背
jǐng景
yīn音
yuè乐
shēng声
yīn音
tài太
dà大
，
xuān喧
bīn宾
duó夺
zhǔ主
，
guān观
zhòng众
gēn根
běn本
tīng听
bù不
qīng清
duì对
bái白
。
The background music was too loud and overpowering; the audience couldn't hear the dialogue at all.