a place in the sun
Preserved but no longer current.
A favourable position that allows room for development; a share in what one has a natural right to. The phrase was popularized by William II of Germany during the crisis of 1911. In his speech at Hamburg (Aug. 27th) he spoke of the German nation taking steps that would make them — sure that no one can dispute with us the place in the sun that is our due.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “a place in the sun” mean?
A favourable position that allows room for development; a share in what one has a natural right to. The phrase was popularized by William II of Germany during the crisis of 1911. In his speech at Hamburg (Aug. 27th) he spoke of the German nation taking steps that would make them — sure that no one can dispute with us the place in the sun that is our due.
Is “a place in the sun” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.