the lights are too bright

used when a sports person at an elite level is intimidated by the situation (finals, quarterfinals, semifinals, etc.) and hence puts in a bad performance, a disasterclass.

this sportsperson usually looks like the real deal at stages of the competition when the expectation to perform isn’t as strong, like the first few weeks of the league season

can also be used to describe the most elite levels in sports (Champions League knockout stages, World Cup, Qualifying for any Grand Prix, etc)

- “0 goals, 0 assists, 0 key passes and went of with an injury. I’m afraid the lights are too bright for Kevin de Bruyne”
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