Were does the saying "Steal my thunder" come from?
2006-07-21 10:35:39 · 16 answers · asked by brigid3333 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
maybe from Indians...or somethin u kno their names and all
2006-07-21 10:38:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
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!
2006-07-21 17:41:45 · answer #2 · answered by aaron.lattin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question. It's a sport everybody attempts to practice, as well. Makes you wonder just how much thunder there is around to steal. Excluding beans of course.
2006-07-21 17:40:43 · answer #3 · answered by vanamont7 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Greek Mythology , Thor was the God of thunder ,
and other Gods wanted his power (to steal his thunder)
2006-07-21 17:39:53 · answer #4 · answered by BONE° 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, the Norse god Thor was the god of thunder, and his thunder was his battle hammer Mjollnir and also his best friend. Thrym, the king of the giants, stole Mjollnir, so Thor had to rescue it. Thor dressed up as Freya, the goddess of love, and offered to marry Thrym. When he got to the wedding feast and Thrym lifted his (Thor's) veil to kiss the bride, Thor grabbed Mjollnir and killed all the giants with it. Could this be the origin of the expression?
2006-07-21 17:51:06 · answer #5 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know where it originated. It's a lot like upstaging some one. It may have been some one who deflated some windbag preacher banging the pulpit and calling down thunder and lightening on wrong doers in his flock. May someone passed some loud gas and drew the attention away from him.
2006-07-21 17:43:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
say you were to get up in front of a crowd and give a speech. You have worked very hard on it, and you had 2 speakers before you. The one speaker who spoke before you said everything you were going to say- but mabbee more, and a little bit better. They have "stole your thunder".
2006-07-21 17:40:10 · answer #7 · answered by Miss America 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it came from this guy who wrote a play with a lot of sound effects in the 17thcentury and a theatre wouldnt run it even though his setup was there..he said they will not run my play but they steal my thunder..
2006-07-21 17:39:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
someone had some thunder, and told someone to steal it
2006-07-21 17:37:06 · answer #9 · answered by buttupshutupdaddyshome 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Friends!
2006-07-21 17:38:20 · answer #10 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From John Dennis in 1709. I was hoping that it was from Greek or Roman mythology.
2006-07-21 17:41:14 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋