grandstand play: Meaning and Definition of

grand'stand play"

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. an ostentatious play, as in a sport, overemphasized deliberately to elicit applause from spectators.
  2. any action or attempt designed to win approval or to make a strong impression: His going to work on Christmas was another of his grandstand plays.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.