upstaging

adverb

1. on or toward the back of the stage.

adjective

2. of, relating to, or located at the back of the stage.
3. haughtily aloof; supercilious.

verb (used with object), up·staged, up·stag·ing.

4. to overshadow (another performer) by moving upstage and forcing the performer to turn away from the audience.
5. to outdo professionally, socially, etc.
6. to behave snobbishly toward.

noun

7. the rear half of the stage.
8. any stage position to the rear of another.

adverb

1. on, at, or to the rear of the stage

adjective

2. of or relating to the back half of the stage
3. informal haughty; supercilious; aloof

verb (tr)

4. to move upstage of (another actor), thus forcing him to turn away from the audience
5. informal to draw attention to oneself from (someone else); steal the show from (someone)
6. informal to treat haughtily

noun

7. the back half of the stage

1918 (adj.), 1921 (v.); the notion is of drawing attention to oneself (and away from a fellow actor) by moving upstage — to the rear of the stage — so that the other actor must face away from the audience. The noun upstage “back of the stage” is recorded from 1870.