verb phrase🎓 English idiom

steal someone's thunder

to take attention or credit from someone

What it means

To take attention, praise, or credit away from someone, often by doing or revealing something before they get the chance to. It usually implies you've spoiled another person's moment of recognition, whether on purpose or not.

Examples

  • She announced her engagement at my graduation party and totally stole my thunder.
  • Don't mention the results yet — you'll steal the director's thunder at the meeting.
  • I was about to share the good news when my brother stole my thunder.
  • He resented his deputy for stealing his thunder during the press conference.

Where it comes from

Coined by 18th-century playwright John Dennis, who invented a thunder sound-effect for his own play; when a rival theatre used his method for Macbeth, he reportedly complained they had stolen his thunder.

Related idioms

#throw someone under the bus#blow your own trumpet#a hot potato#in the heat of the moment

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