What is the origin of the expression “to steal someones thunder”?
(T. Laxminarayan, Coimbatore) Suppose you invent something truly wonderful and decide to inform the Press about it. But before you can actually do it, someone tells you that a friend of yours has already held a press conference and has informed the reporters of the wonderful invention. What is it that your friend has done? He has prevented you from getting the public recognition that is due to you. Instead of the focus being on you, he has managed to become the focus of attention. When you “steal someone’s thunder” you get the attention or praise that the other person should have got. You achieve this by doing or saying what the other person had intended to do or say. Here are a few examples. *Nirupama had no intention of letting Arun steal any of her thunder. *Neha stole Jhansi’s thunder by leaking the information to the Press. *The Prime Minister was in no mood to let the Opposition steal his political thunder. A third rate playwright named John Dennis, (I have no idea if he is relat
