Let’s explore the saying ‘steal someone’s thunder’ together, understanding its meaning, origins, and real-life examples.
Meaning of the Idiom
The idiom ‘steal someone’s thunder’ refers to taking credit or attention away from someone else’s achievements, ideas, or news by doing or saying something similar or better. It implies the act of overshadowing or diminishing someone else’s success or accomplishment by diverting attention to oneself. The phrase is often used in situations where someone’s original idea or discovery is overlooked or ignored because of another’s actions.
Origin of the Idiom
The origin of the phrase ‘steal someone’s thunder’ can be traced back to the 18th century and is attributed to the playwright John Dennis. According to legend, Dennis invented a sound effect to simulate thunder for his play, but his production failed. Later, he attended a performance where his thunder effect was used, and he exclaimed, “That is my thunder, by God! The villains will play my thunder, but not my play!” This incident gave rise to the idiom, reflecting the feeling of having one’s work or innovation usurped by others.
10 Idiom Examples in Everyday Situations
1. “He stole my thunder by announcing his promotion on the same day I was planning to share my achievement.”
2. “The rival company stole our thunder by releasing a similar product just before our launch date.”
3. “She always tries to steal her colleague’s thunder by presenting their ideas as her own.”
4. “The mayor stole the council member’s thunder by taking credit for the successful community project.”
5. “He stole my thunder by making the same joke I was about to tell, but he got all the laughs.”
6. “My sister stole my thunder by wearing the same outfit to the party and getting all the compliments.”
7. “The actor stole his co-star’s thunder with his show-stopping performance in the play.”
8. “The new employee stole the seasoned employee’s thunder by impressing the boss with innovative ideas.”
9. “The politician stole his opponent’s thunder by making a surprise announcement just before the election.”
10. “The student stole his classmate’s thunder by presenting a more compelling project.”
5 Quotes Featuring the Idiom
1. “Don’t let anyone steal your thunder; stand up and claim credit for your achievements.” – Unknown
2. “It’s frustrating when someone steals your thunder, but it’s a reminder to always be vigilant and assertive.” – Unknown
3. “When someone tries to steal your thunder, use it as motivation to shine even brighter.” – Unknown
4. “Stealing someone’s thunder may bring temporary recognition, but true success comes from genuine effort and innovation.” – Unknown
5. “Beware of those who seek to steal your thunder; they may not have your best interests at heart.” – Unknown
Idioms Starting From Letter S
Each and every letter of the English alphabet has hundreds of idioms. As in this post, we are talking about the idiom beginning with the letter S. There are many other idioms that also start with the ‘S’, which can be useful to you. We have gathered all the S-starting idiomatic expressions on a single page to make it easy for you to find the best and most useful idioms starting with the letter S.
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