The phrase “to steal someone’s thunder” has a fascinating origin story from the world of theater in the 18th century. This expression now means taking credit for someone else’s idea or success, but it originally referred to something much more literal!

Here’s the story: In 1704, a playwright named John Dennis invented a new way to simulate the sound of thunder for his play “Appius and Virginia.” Dennis was thrilled with his innovation, which involved shaking metal sheets to create the rumbling sound. Unfortunately, the play itself wasn’t successful and closed quickly. Soon after, Dennis noticed that another production at the same theater was using his thunder sound effect. Outraged, he reportedly exclaimed, “They will not let my play run, but they steal my thunder!”

Though Dennis’s play didn’t make much impact, his complaint did! The phrase “to steal someone’s thunder” caught on and became a way of describing situations where someone uses or takes credit for someone else’s idea.

So, next time you hear someone say “steal someone’s thunder,” remember John Dennis and his ingenious, though ultimately uncredited, thunder sound effect!

Happy learning, and feel free to ask about any other interesting English phrases! 🌟