steal someone's thunder

present singular third person steals someone's thunder · participle present stealing someone's thunder · past stole someone's thunder · participle past stolen someone's thunder

1. idiomaticTo appropriate someone's ideas or information, typically in order to look better at that person's expense.

   It also serves to give someone else an opportunity to steal your thunder if he considers there is any amount of thunder in it.

   1898, Boot and Shoe Recorder - Volume 33

   2 more examples

   There are several upstarts, who, without the genius to invent a style, have been copying yours, and trying to steal your thunder.

   1855, Jno. E. Vought, “Editor's Table (letters)”, in The Knickerbocker: Or, New-York Monthly Magazine Volume 46, page 101

   The sense of accomplishment is yours to enjoy, and nobody can steal your thunder. Even I couldn't take credit for your weight loss under my own plan, because you're the one who will do the accomplishing.

   2001, Holly Bergeim, The Customized No No-Nos Weight Loss Plan, →ISBN, page 40

2. idiomaticTo detract from someone's accomplishments or glory; to undermine.

   Can Your Competition Steal Your Thunder? Make sure that your competitors can't undermine your statement.

   2005, Walter McDowell, Alan Batten, Branding TV: Principles and Practices, →ISBN, page 116

   2 more examples

   I'm in no way, hoping for any such disasters to take place. Nevertheless, I know that they will and I shamefully admit I didn't want those events to steal my thunder. Literally, I want to finish, publish, market, and distribute this book around the world first.

   2011, Chuck Thompson, What Should You Do Before the Tribulation Age of 42, →ISBN, page xxxix

   Rather than stealing their thunder, that strategy has served only to make them look to more and more voters like an increasingly viable and legitimate option.

   2024 January 14, Tim Bale, “Europe is marching to the right. Can Keir Starmer carry the centre-left torch?”, in The Observer