Know Your English (Nov 2001)-21

Know your English

What is the origin of the expression "to steal someone's thunder"?

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 related to the Match Referee Mike Denness) wrote a play called "Appius and Virginia". In the play there were several scenes, which required the sound of thunder. The story goes that Dennis invented a machine, which produced the sound of thunder. Unfortunately, for the dramatist, his play was a flop, so not many people got an opportunity to listen to the sound of thunder produced by his machine. A few weeks later, Dennis went to see Shakespeare's, "Macbeth" and was astonished to find that the sound of thunder needed in the play was being produced by the machine that he himself had invented. Dennis apparently was so angry that he shouted, "Damn them!...They will not let my play run, but they steal my thunder!" Dennis may not be remembered for his plays, but he will be remembered for the expression that he coined. As for Mike Denness, the Match Referee, well the poor man is so desperate that he is trying to steal everyone's thunder!


Source:

The Hindu daily, Tuesday, November 27, 2001