'He wanted to be a success…'

[Tamara]

Hi

But he wanted to be a success before asking me out. – this is the phase from a quite stupid an naive story I was given for my homework (writing a review).

The meaning of 'be a success' is generally understood, but I have never met such a use.

Could you validate, whether it’s OK to use the saying… with no limitation?
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[Alan]

Hi,

Things and people can be 'successes'. The opening night of The sound of Music was a huge success. Charlie was a great success at the party with his stories about life in the theatre.

They both mean that they were successful or achieved success. In your sentence I imagine that the idea is of being charming and personable.

A
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English as a Second Language
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[Tom]

[Alan]

Hi Tom,

1 is fine.

2 She's a bit of drama queen would be my suggestion.

3 would be used for schemes, plans, ideas and in particular productions at the theatre

A
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Colour Idioms