The expression “Make a splash” is used to talk about a person or event that makes a sudden, major impact and attracts a great deal of attention or becomes very well known.
Example in use: ‘‘Barack Obama made quite a splash when he first ran for President!’’
The origin of the phrase “Make a Splash” isn’t known for certain, however, the term has been in popular since about the middle of the 20th century. It is commonly used in the UK and America.