| 词汇 | steal my thunder |
| 词源 | steal my thunder. “Our author, for the advantage of this play, had invented a new species of thunder . . . the very sort that is presently used in the theatre. The tragedy itself was coldly re- ceived, notwithstanding such assistance, and was acted but a short time. Some nights after, Mr. Dennis, being in the pit at the representation of Macbeth, heard his own thunder made use of; upon which he rose in a violent passion and exclaimed, ‘See how the rascals use me! They will not let my play run, and yet they steal my thunder.’ ” This early account of the origin of the expression steal my thunder, from the Biographia Britanni- ca, is accurate in all respects, according to most authorities. Restoration playwright John Dennis (1657–1734) had invented a new and more effective way of simulating thunder on the stage (by shaking a sheet of tin) for his play Appius and Virginia (1709). The play soon closed, but a rival company stole his thunder, inspiring his outburst and giving us the expression steal my thunder. |
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