What Does “Steal Someone’s Thunder” Mean and How to Use It in IELTS Preparation?

Understanding and effectively using idioms can significantly boost your IELTS score, particularly in the Speaking and Writing sections. One such idiom is “steal someone’s thunder.” In this article, we’ll delve into its meaning, pronunciation, and usage within the context of the IELTS exam, making use of relevant keywords and related terms.

What Does “Steal Someone’s Thunder” Mean?

Meaning and Pronunciation

• “Steal someone’s thunder” /stiːl ˈsʌmwʌnz ˈθʌndər/ (verb phrase): to take attention or praise away from someone else’s achievements by doing or announcing something similar but slightly better.

Synonyms and Antonyms

1. Upstage /ʌpˈsteɪdʒ/ (v) – to take attention away from someone else.
2. Overshadow /ˌoʊvərˈʃædoʊ/ (v) – to make someone or something seem less important.
3. Outshine /ˌaʊtˈʃaɪn/ (v) – to be much better or more impressive than someone or something.
4. Eclipse /ɪˈklɪps/ (v) – to make something seem less important or noticeable.
5. Dominate /ˈdɒmɪneɪt/ (v) – to have a very strong influence or control over something or someone.

Example Sentences:

1. Upstage: She always tries to upstage her colleagues during meetings.
2. Overshadow: His brilliant speech overshadowed all the other presentations at the conference.
3. Outshine: Her performance in the play outshone everyone else’s.
4. Eclipse: The new movie completely eclipsed the popularity of the older ones.
5. Dominate: He tends to dominate conversations, making it hard for others to contribute.

Steal Someone's Thunder Example

The Use of “Steal Someone’s Thunder” in IELTS

Common Usage in Exam Contexts

Let’s break down how this idiom might appear in various parts of the IELTS test:

Speaking Section

Using idiomatic expressions like “steal someone’s thunder” can add to the naturalness and fluency of your speech, potentially increasing your score in the Fluency and Coherence criterion.

Example Question:

Question: Describe a time you were proud of an achievement. How did it make you feel?
Answer: “I vividly remember when I was praised for a project at work, but then, my colleague announced a similar project, effectively stealing my thunder. It made me realize the importance of timing and presentation.”

Writing Section

Idioms can add flavor to your essays and reports, helping you achieve a higher lexical resource score if used appropriately and correctly.

Writing Task 1 Example:

“In the workplace report, we observed that productivity increased significantly after the introduction of new software, which initially seemed to steal the thunder of the previous system updates.”

Writing Task 2 Example:

“While some argue that technological advancements have stolen the thunder from traditional methods, it is crucial to recognize the benefits these innovations bring to our daily lives.”

Popularity and Prevalence

“Steal someone’s thunder” is a moderately common idiom but carries significant impact when used properly in IELTS. It’s not overly complicated, making it accessible yet expressive.

Further Idiomatic Expressions Relating to “Steal Someone’s Thunder”

1. Break the ice: to initiate conversation in a social setting.
2. Hit the nail on the head: to describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem.
3. Burn the midnight oil: to stay up late working on something.
4. Spill the beans: to disclose a secret.
5. Bite the bullet: to face a difficult situation with courage.
6. Bury the hatchet: to make peace or reconcile.
7. Blow off steam: to release pent-up energy or emotions.
8. Cut to the chase: to get to the point without wasting time.
9. Jump on the bandwagon: to join others in doing something that is currently popular.
10. Face the music: to accept the consequences of one’s actions.

Example Sentences for Further Idioms:

1. Break the ice: He made a joke to break the ice at the start of the meeting.
2. Hit the nail on the head: Her suggestion hit the nail on the head and solved the problem.
3. Burn the midnight oil: I had to burn the midnight oil to finish my assignment on time.
4. Spill the beans: She spilled the beans about the surprise party.
5. Bite the bullet: He had to bite the bullet and tell his boss the bad news.
6. Bury the hatchet: After years of feuding, they finally decided to bury the hatchet.
7. Blow off steam: He went for a run to blow off steam after the stressful meeting.
8. Cut to the chase: Let’s cut to the chase – what do you actually want?
9. Jump on the bandwagon: She decided to jump on the bandwagon and join the new trend.
10. Face the music: After lying, he knew he had to face the music sooner or later.

Conclusion

Understanding and using idioms like “steal someone’s thunder” effectively can provide a significant edge in the IELTS exam. Familiarize yourself with this idiom and related expressions to enhance your speaking and writing skills. Continually practice using these phrases in context to make them a natural part of your English language repertoire. Good luck with your IELTS preparation!