PhrasesHub

To steal someone's thunder

    Definitions

      • take credit for someone else's work or idea
        To claim or receive recognition for something that was actually created or achieved by someone else

      • ruin someone's plans or surprise
        To spoil or undermine someone's efforts or intentions, often by doing something similar or better before they have the chance to do so themselves

      • divert attention from someone
        To draw attention away from someone or something by doing or saying something more attention-grabbing or noteworthy

    Examples of To steal someone's thunder

    • After Sarah gave her presentation, John suddenly interrupted her and started talking about the same topic. Sarah felt like John had stolen her thunder.

      The idiom "to steal someone's thunder" means to take away someone's credit or attention for something they have already done or said. In this example, John interrupted Sarah's presentation and started talking about the same topic, which made Sarah feel like John had taken away her credit for bringing up the topic first.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "to steal someone's thunder" is commonly used to describe situations where someone takes credit for another person's idea or work. This can be done intentionally or unintentionally, but the result is the same – the person who came up with the idea or put in the effort is not properly recognized or acknowledged. This can be a source of frustration for the original creator and can also lead to conflicts or misunderstandings.

    Another meaning of the idiom is to ruin someone's plans or surprise. This can happen when someone else does or says something similar or better before the original person has the chance to do so. This can also happen unintentionally, but it can still have a negative impact on the person's plans or surprise.

    Lastly, the idiom can also be used to describe situations where someone diverts attention away from another person. This can be done purposely or unintentionally, but the result is that the focus is shifted away from the original person and onto the new event or information.

    Origin of "To steal someone's thunder"

    The origin of this idiom can be traced back to the early 1700s when the English playwright John Dennis created a play called "Appius and Virginia." In this play, he used a special effect of rolling a cannonball across the stage to simulate thunder, which was a groundbreaking technique at the time. However, the night before the play's debut, another play used the same effect, stealing Dennis' thunder. This led him to use the phrase "stealing one's thunder" to describe the situation.

    Over time, the idiom became more widely known and used in various contexts, not just in the theater. It has also been used in literature, music, and everyday conversations. The phrase has become a popular way to describe situations where someone's efforts or ideas are not properly recognized or appreciated.

    In conclusion, the idiom "to steal someone's thunder" originated from a specific event in the theater but has since evolved to have various meanings. It is commonly used to describe situations where someone takes credit for another person's work or idea, ruins someone's plans or surprise, or diverts attention away from someone.