[Idiom] step into the picture

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Leosiso

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What does "step into the picture" mean?
 

5jj

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Vidor

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not a teacher

The most obvious and literal would be, when taking a photograph, to ask a person who is not in view of the camera's lens to step into view of the camera's lens so he will be in the picture. I can't think of any idiomatic meaning of this phrase.
 

Raymott

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This happens occasionally to professional picture hangers, when they lose their step on the ladder and put their foot through a canvas.
It's used more often as a figurative term in some contexts.
 

freezeframe

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This happens occasionally to professional picture hangers, when they lose their step on the ladder and put their foot through a canvas.

For some reason I couldn't stop laughing after reading this. :-D
 

Raymott

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For some reason I couldn't stop laughing after reading this. :-D
That's good. :)

To Leosiso,
The reason you haven't received the right answer yet is that you've given no context. This is very important. Since you're a new poster, I'll ignore that, and write a more useful response.

Figuratively, "to step into the picture" means "to begin participating in something". Some examples might help:
"I was getting somewhere with Mary, until you stepped into the picture." (I was progressing well in my endeavours to court Mary, until you - an obviously superior man - appeared as a competitor for her attentions.)
"Timmy's stepfather thought he was bonding well with the child until his real father stepped back into the picture." (Similar concept to above).
"There aren't many good candidates for the election, but there's still time for talented people to step into the picture."
 

Vidor

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not a teacher

until you stepped into the picture

So that's the idiom we're talking about?

In America that would be came into the picture.
 

Raymott

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Re: not a teacher

So that's the idiom we're talking about?
Who knows? That could only be determined if the OP stepped back into the picture.
 
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