come to the front—
1. (also: come to the fore) become well known or popular:
- He had come to the front as the Prince Charming of politics—young, handsome, and popular.
2. be revealed; manifest itself:
- At such a time his true boastful self would come to the front.
go to the front—take an advanced or forward position; take the lead in a race, etc.:
- Sans Egal went to the front at once and opened a lead of some six lengths.