IdiomDaily Life
English
EnglishTo steal someone's thunder
Meaning: To take credit for another's idea or upstage their big moment.
Example: “She announced her own engagement at her sister's baby shower and completely stole her thunder.”
Origin: Playwright John Dennis invented a thunder machine for his 1709 play; when rivals used the effect in Macbeth he raged that they had stolen his thunder.
Equivalents in other languages
French: Couper l'herbe sous le pied de quelqu'un Literally: To cut the grass from under someone's foot
More English idioms
- To turn a blind eye To deliberately ignore something you know is wrong.
- Hair of the dog A morning drink taken to cure a hangover.
- To bite the bullet To face something painful with gritted courage.
- To go cold turkey To quit a habit abruptly and completely.
- To cut the mustard To meet the required standard; to succeed.
- To chew the fat To chat idly and at length.
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