upstage
/ʌpˈsteɪdʒ/ (bre, ipa) · [əpstˈedʒ] /ʌpˈsteɪdʒ/ (ame, ipa) · [əpstˈedʒ] /ˈəp-ˈstāj How to pronounce upstage (audio)/ (ame, mw) · [əpstˈedʒ] /ˈʌp.steɪdʒ/ (ame, ipa)
upstage — 動詞
- upstagepresent simple I / you / we / they
- upstages3rd person singular
- upstaging-ing form
- upstagedpast simple
1. to make people notice you, or something connected with you, more than another pe
搶風頭
把別人的注意力或光彩搶走
to make people notice you, or something connected with you, more than another person, so that the other person seems less impressive.
Noor upstaged the host by singing before the awards were announced.
Noor 在頒獎結果公布前先開唱，搶了主持人的風頭。
upstage + person by doing something more striking
The red carpet drama upstaged the director's new film at Cannes.
紅毯上的風波在坎城搶過了導演新片的風頭。
A surprise fireworks show upstaged the bride and groom after dinner.
晚餐後那場驚喜煙火秀搶走了新人的風采。
Christopher worried that his jokes would upstage the lead actor.
Christopher 擔心自己的笑話會搶了男主角的風頭。
- outshine
focuses on looking more impressive, often without the negative social tone
- overshadow
can be caused by bad news or a problem, not only by a stronger performer
- steal the show
more informal and usually strongly positive
文法句型
upstage + person/event
joke/scandal/performance + upstage + noun
be upstaged by + noun
用法筆記
Often suggests an unwanted shift in attention, especially at performances, public events, or ceremonies. The subject is usually a person, a dramatic action, or bad news that makes someone else look less important.
常見錯誤
2. to move farther toward the back of the stage so another actor has to twist aroun
逼人背向
站到舞台後方，逼另一位演員背向觀眾
to move farther toward the back of the stage so another actor has to twist around and stop facing the crowd directly.
During rehearsal, Faisal upstaged Nora by drifting behind her during the speech.
排練時，Faisal 走到 Nora 後方，害她只好背向觀眾。
theatre use: move behind another actor
The director warned Jisoo not to upstage Antonia in the trial scene.
導演警告 Jisoo 在審判那場戲裡別把 Antonia 逼得背向觀眾。
One careless step can upstage the actor beside you near center stage.
一個不小心的腳步，就可能讓你身旁的演員被迫背向觀眾。
Hoa accidentally upstaged Baraka by crossing behind him too soon.
Hoa 太早從 Baraka 後面穿過去，不小心讓他背向了觀眾。
- pull focus from
wider theatre phrase for taking attention, but less exact about stage position
- misblock
production jargon for placing movement badly, not always by moving farther back
- share the line of sight
to keep the blocking fair so both actors face the audience well
文法句型
upstage + actor
upstage + scene partner by + moving behind them
用法筆記
This is a technical theatre sense about physical blocking, not about fame or public attention. It usually describes an actor moving too far back and making a scene partner face away from the audience.
常見錯誤
3. to put someone down with a cold, superior attitude that makes them feel small or
擺架子
用高傲態度壓人，讓對方難堪
to put someone down with a cold, superior attitude that makes them feel small or unwelcome.
The senior chef upstaged the trainee with a cutting remark in class.
那位資深主廚在課上用一句尖酸的話給實習生擺架子。
upstage + person with a superior remark
Lauren felt upstaged when the buyer ignored her questions completely.
買家完全不理 Lauren 的問題，讓她覺得自己被人擺架子。
feel upstaged by someone else's superior behaviour
Baraka's cousin tried to upstage him by mocking his accent at dinner.
Baraka 的表親在晚餐時嘲笑他的口音，想藉此壓他一頭。
The club manager upstaged new members with a stiff, superior smile.
俱樂部經理用僵硬又高高在上的笑容對新成員擺架子。
- snub
focuses on coldly ignoring someone rather than acting grander than them
- look down on
plain expression for treating someone as socially lower
- patronize
suggests talking to someone as if they were less capable
文法句型
upstage + person
upstage + person with + superior behaviour
用法筆記
This sense is about attitude rather than attention from a crowd. It often appears when someone behaves as if they are above other people and deliberately makes them uncomfortable.
upstage — 副詞
1. in the zone nearest the back wall of a theatre, away from the audience.
往後方
朝舞台後方、遠離觀眾的位置
in the zone nearest the back wall of a theatre, away from the audience.
The dancers waited upstage while the curtain rose on the choir.
布幕為合唱團升起時，舞者正在舞台後方等著。
move or stay + upstage
A bench stood upstage beside the painted kitchen door.
一張長椅放在舞台後方、彩繪廚房門的旁邊。
The lantern rolled upstage after Nora brushed the tablecloth.
Nora 刷到桌布後，那盞燈籠滾向了舞台後方。
Please step upstage so the front row can see the baby.
請往舞台後方站一點，前排才看得到那個嬰兒。
- toward the back
plain description outside theatre jargon
- downstage
toward the front of the stage
文法句型
move/step/wait + upstage
用法筆記
Used as a stage direction or spatial description in theatre. It points away from the audience, opposite downstage.
upstage — 形容詞
- upstagepositive
- more upstagecomparative
- most upstagesuperlative
1. showing a cold, superior attitude that keeps other people at a distance.
高傲的
態度冷淡又自視甚高的
showing a cold, superior attitude that keeps other people at a distance.
The actress gave reporters an upstage smile and walked into the lift.
那位女演員給記者一個高傲的笑，就走進電梯了。
collocation: upstage smile / manner / tone
His upstage manner made the younger staff avoid the office kitchen.
他那種高傲的派頭，讓年輕員工都避開辦公室茶水間。
Noor sounded upstage when she corrected the waiter in public.
Noor 當眾糾正服務生時，聽起來很高傲。
The designer's upstage tone spoiled what should have been a warm welcome.
那位設計師高高在上的口氣，毀了原本應該很溫暖的歡迎。
文法句型
upstage + look/tone/manner
用法筆記
Mostly describes behaviour, expression, or tone rather than permanent character. It is close to haughty, but often carries a slightly theatrical or affected flavour.
2. describing something placed in or belonging to the back area of a theatre stage.
舞台後方的
位於舞台後方區域的
describing something placed in or belonging to the back area of a theatre stage.
The upstage wall was painted to look like old brick.
舞台後方那面牆被畫成舊磚牆的樣子。
upstage + stage feature
A narrow upstage platform held the drummer and two speakers.
一個窄窄的後舞台平台放著鼓手和兩支喇叭。
The stage manager checked the upstage lights before the audience entered.
觀眾進場前，舞台監督先檢查了後舞台的燈。
Props for the storm scene were stacked in the upstage corner.
暴風雨那場戲的道具都堆在舞台後方的角落。
- rear-stage
descriptive label with the same staging idea, though less standard
- downstage
describes the front area of the stage
文法句型
upstage + wall/corner/lights/door
用法筆記
This theatre sense usually modifies a noun naming part of the set or stage space. It does not describe social attitude like sense 1.
upstage — 名詞
1. the back section of a theatre stage, opposite the audience and nearest the back
舞台後區
舞台最靠後、背向觀眾的部分
the back section of a theatre stage, opposite the audience and nearest the back wall.
The piano was moved to the upstage before the final chorus began.
最後一段合唱開始前，鋼琴被移到了舞台後區。
to the upstage = to the rear stage area
Smoke drifted across the upstage as the battle scene started.
戰鬥場景一開始，煙霧就飄過了舞台後區。
A hidden door in the upstage opened for the ghost entrance.
舞台後區裡的一扇暗門打開了，好讓鬼魂登場。
The director watched from the wings and pointed at the upstage.
導演從側台看著，接著指向了舞台後區。
- rear stage area
plain descriptive phrase rather than theatre shorthand
- downstage
the front part of the stage nearest the audience
文法句型
the upstage
in/across/to + the upstage
用法筆記
Usually appears with 'the' because it names a fixed part of the stage. It is a theatre-space noun, not the verb about stealing attention.