Meet the Queen of Christmas Who Lights Up Brooklyn
outdo oneself: to do something much better than one has ever done before
The houses in this Brooklyn neighborhood shine like no other place each December. Lucy, known as the “Queen of Christmas,” started this neighborhood Christmas tradition in 1987. She goes bigger with brighter lights and bigger ornaments every year. In addition to a bigger electricity bill, the bigger lights come with bigger crowds. It gets so busy that the police have to direct traffic, and residents use their back doors to avoid all the people. Lucy promised her husband she would never stop decorating before he died. And she tells her two sons to keep the tradition going after she passes.
It’s not just Lucy. Many neighbors try to outdo themselves each season with more decorations than the year before. Roy, a retired local, proudly says there is no competition as he stands in front of the biggest display in the neighborhood. He spends $150,000 on Christmas decorations every year. And when Christmas ends, he donates almost everything to charity.
Watch the video below to see why this neighborhood could probably be seen from space.
Sample sentences
The students outdid themselves in the school play, surprising even the teachers with their performances.
Every year, the chef outdoes himself by creating a menu more creative than the last one.
The artist outdid herself with the mural, making it the most colorful piece in the gallery.