Feifei This is The English We Speak with me, Feifei…
Rob …and me, Rob.
Feifei Rob, I’ve got some very exciting news to share with you and our listeners.
Rob Well, can I just tell everyone my news first?
Feifei Go on then.
Rob Well, I passed my grade one guitar exam!
Feifei Oh, well done, Rob. But you’ve stolen my thunder now!
Rob I’m not a thief, Feifei – I was just telling everyone my good news.
Feifei I’m not calling you a thief, although you are stealing my attention! If you ‘steal someone’s thunder’, you take the attention away from the other person, usually to your own advantage. It also means you get the praise for something someone else has done. So, Rob, well done, enjoy the attention.
Rob Thanks. Now, will these examples steal your thunder as well?!
Examples Joe stole my thunder by announcing his promotion before I got to tell everyone about mine!
She’s always stealing my thunder by telling people our news before I do.
I was telling a joke and he just interrupted me to tell a different one. He always steals my thunder.
Feifei This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English, and we’re learning about the phrase ‘to steal someone’s thunder’, which means to do something that takes the attention and praise away from someone else. So, Rob, you are now the focus of attention.
Rob Why do you sound so angry?
Feifei Well, I had some big news I wanted to share.
Rob Go on then, tell everyone – share your important news.
Feifei It’s just that I’ve been studying for years, I’ve passed my final exams and I am now a fully qualified brain surgeon.
Rob Oh, I knew that. I saw the certificate on your desk. Yeah, well done.
Feifei Thanks. Looks like you’ve stolen my thunder… again.
Rob Bye.
Feifei Bye.