- Meaning
- This idiom describes taking credit for someone else’s idea, success, or moment of glory, or preempting their achievement to gain attention, as if stealing the dramatic impact of their ‘thunder.’ It conveys an act of appropriation or overshadowing, often used in professional, creative, or social contexts to critique or highlight unfair competition or plagiarism. The phrase carries a tone of indignation, irony, or playful accusation, reflecting cultural disapproval of stealing spotlight and the human desire for recognition. It resonates in competitive environments where originality is valued, capturing the sting of being upstaged, and its theatrical imagery adds a layer of dramatic flair, evoking a stage’s stolen applause. The idiom often implies a breach of fairness, making it a sharp metaphor for the ethics of credit and acclaim.
- Origin
- The phrase originates from an 18th-century theatrical anecdote involving English playwright John Dennis, who invented a thunder sound effect for his 1709 play *Appius and Virginia*, only to have it used by a rival production, prompting him to exclaim they had ‘stolen his thunder.’ The story was recorded in a 1727 *The London Journal*. The idiom gained traction in the 19th century, reflecting a culture of theatrical and literary rivalry, as seen in Charles Dickens’ *Bleak House* (1853), which explores credit disputes. Its use grew in 20th-century British and American English, particularly in journalism and politics, amplified by media like *The New York Times* during the 1920s’ creative battles. The phrase’s adoption in Commonwealth English came through British literary influence, and its spread was fueled by its vivid imagery, evoking a stolen dramatic effect, and its applicability to appropriation, ensuring its enduring use across English-speaking cultures, from art studios to corporate offices.
- Variants
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- Steal someone’s thunder
- Stealing their thunder
- Take their thunder
- Snatch someone’s thunder
- Examples
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- She stole my thunder by presenting my idea to the boss first.
- Stealing their thunder, he announced the project before they could.
- Take their thunder, and you’ll lose trust with the team.
- Snatch someone’s thunder, she did, claiming credit for the design.
- They stole his thunder, launching a similar product days earlier.
- Stealing her thunder, he took the stage right after her speech.
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