- steal someone's thunder
- steal someone's thunder1. To make use of another's invention against him or her (as when John Dennis's stage thunder was used in a rival's play)2. To rob someone of the opportunity of achieving a sensational effect by forestalling him or her• • •Main Entry: ↑steal————————steal someone's thunder see under ↑steal1• • •Main Entry: ↑thunder
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steal someone’s thunder phraseto get attention and praise for doing something that someone else had planned to doSenator Johnson accused the President of stealing his thunder on the tax issue.
Thesaurus: to do something before someone elsesynonymMain entry: steal* * *
Iwin praise for oneself by preempting someone else's attempt to impressIIsee steal* * *
• • •Main Entry: ↑steal————————steal someone's thunder: to prevent someone from having success or getting a lot of attention, praise, etc., by doing or saying whatever that person was planning to do or sayI didn't mean to steal your thunder, but I just had to tell your mom about your promotion.
• • •Main Entry: ↑thunder
Useful english dictionary. 2012.