The idiom steal someone’s thunder means to take attention or praise away from someone else’s achievements by doing or saying something that draws attention to oneself. It can also refer to using someone else’s ideas or inventions without giving them credit.
Understanding the Meaning:
Imagine you’re at a party, and you’ve planned a big announcement – perhaps you’ve just gotten a promotion or bought a new house. Just as you’re about to share your exciting news, your friend jumps up and announces they’re getting married. Suddenly, all the attention shifts to them, and your big moment is completely overshadowed. That’s exactly what it feels like when someone steals your thunder. It’s like you’ve been preparing to shine, but someone else swoops in and grabs all the spotlight.
Emotion It Expresses:
The idiom steal someone’s thunder often conveys feelings of frustration, disappointment, or resentment. The person who has had their thunder stolen usually feels undermined and unappreciated, as their moment of recognition or success is overshadowed by someone else’s actions.
Historical Usage:
The origin of steal someone’s thunder dates back to the early 18th century. It is attributed to the English playwright John Dennis, who invented a new method for creating the sound of thunder for his play “Appius and Virginia.” His play was unsuccessful, but shortly afterward, another play used his thunder effect. Dennis is reported to have exclaimed, “They will not let my play run, but they will steal my thunder!” Thus, the idiom was born from his indignation.
Dialogues:
Regional Variations:
In the United States, steal someone’s thunder is commonly used in both professional and casual contexts. It’s a widely understood idiom and is used in various situations where someone feels their moment of glory has been overshadowed.
In India, while the idiom steal someone’s thunder might not be as commonly used, the concept is understood, and similar expressions or phrases convey the same sentiment. For instance, phrases like “steal the show” or “take the spotlight” might be used more frequently to express the idea of someone overshadowing another’s moment.
The idiom steal someone’s thunder means to take attention or praise away from someone else’s achievements by doing or saying something that shifts the focus to oneself. This can also involve using someone else’s ideas or inventions without giving them due credit. For example, if someone announces a significant personal achievement only to be overshadowed by another’s even bigger news, their thunder has been stolen.
To understand this idiom, imagine preparing for a moment of recognition, only to have someone else take the spotlight with their news or actions. This idiom conveys feelings of frustration, disappointment, or resentment, as the person whose thunder is stolen feels undermined and unappreciated.
The idiom originated in the early 18th century with English playwright John Dennis, who invented a method to create the sound of thunder for his play. When another play used his technique after his own failed, Dennis exclaimed that they had “stolen his thunder.”
Sentence Examples:
Dialogues:
Exercise Questions:
