the.com/standout

The one who didn't try to stand out, and did anyway.

means A person or thing so clearly excellent that it's impossible not to notice, no effort at attention-getting required.

from A straightforward compound of 'stand' and 'out' — literally to stand apart from a surrounding group, the way a tall figure in a crowd or a bright color against a dull background simply refuses to blend in. The verb phrase 'stand out' is old, but the noun 'standout' (a person or thing of exceptional, noticeable quality) is a 20th-century American coinage, first at home in sports and showbiz, where it described the player or performer who outshone the lineup without needing an introduction.

origin
literally means stands apart from a lineup
overused in
performance reviews and dating profiles
red flag
calling yourself one usually isn't true
real test
others say it before you do
the.com · every word