stake a claim

Meaning: To declare that something is yours, or that you have a right to it.

Example: “She staked a claim to the window seat the moment we boarded.”

Origin: From land rushes and gold rushes, where settlers and miners drove stakes into the ground to mark the plot they claimed. The figurative use is common from the 19th century.

Equivalents in other languages

Swedish: Lägga rabarber på något Literally: To lay rhubarb on something

More English idioms

dig one's heels in To refuse stubbornly to change one's mind.
the scales fall from one's eyes To suddenly see the truth after being deceived.
feet of clay A hidden weakness in someone or something admired.
get to grips with something To start dealing seriously with a problem.
the law of the jungle A situation where the strongest or most ruthless win.
get one's hands on something To obtain something, often with difficulty.

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Equivalents in other languages

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