shine a light on
Meaning(s)
1. reveal or clarify something
Popularity
High
Professional
High
Social
How to Memorize
shine a light on the situation
Analysis
The idiom 'to shine a light on' something means to reveal or expose something or making something clear or easier to understand. You can shine a light on something by providing an explanation, explaining something, or giving additional information. You can use this idiom in both social and professional contexts.
Social Examples (Basic)
- New evidence found by the police throws some light on the suspect's motives for committing the crime.
- I can't make any sense of this document, are you able to shine any light on what it's about?
- The podcast explained the political situation very well and shone a light on the situation for those not living in the area.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- The boss held a wash-up meeting to shine a light on where things had gone wrong with the project.
- We keep having issues with the new software, so I called Ann in to look at it. She's an IT Specialist, so I hope she can shed some light on the situation.