What does the idiom 'Steal someone's thunder' mean?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Meaning and Origin of the idiom “Steal someone’s thunder”:
Meaning: To take the credit, attention, or praise for someone else's achievements, ideas, or news, often by doing or saying it before they can.
Core Concept: It involves "upstaging" someone or diverting the spotlight away from their success for your own benefit.
Origin Story: The phrase originates from the 18th-century playwright John Dennis, who invented a new method for making the sound of thunder in his play Appius and Virginia. When a rival theater used his method for a production of Macbeth, Dennis reportedly shouted, "See how the rascals use me! They will not let my play run, and yet they steal my thunder!"