stake a/(your) claim

to make it clear that you want something, and that you think you deserve to get it.

Descendants of the original settlers are going to court to stake their claim to the land. (often + to)

In order to stake a claim for world prominence in astronomy, the university is building a huge new optical telescope.

• be a cut above something
• be a dab hand
• be a dead cert
• be a dead loss
• be a dead ringer for
• be a dead ringer for someone
• be a dead ringer for something
• be a different kettle of fish
• be a dime a dozen
• be a disaster in the making
• be a far cry from
• be a far cry from something
• be a fate worse than death
• be a figment of imagination
• be a figment of the imagination
• be a figment of your imagination
• be a fine figure of a man
• be a fine figure of a woman
• be a force to be reckoned with
• be afraid of own shadow
• be afraid of your own shadow
• be after blood
• be after someone's blood
• be a fully paid-up member of
• be a fully paid-up member of something