before the lights
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
In theatrical parlance, on the stage, Le. before the foot-lights.
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 “before the lights” mean?
In theatrical parlance, on the stage, Le. before the foot-lights.
Is “before the lights” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.