Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom in the given sentence.

Samuel accused Jane of stealing the thunder on the capital punishment issue.

Get praise for doing something before someone

The most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom in the given sentence is get praise for doing something before someone.

The idiom "steal someone's thunder" means to take credit for someone else's idea or achievement. It is thought to have originated from the idea that thunder is a powerful sound that can be used to attract attention.

In the given sentence, Samuel is accusing Jane of taking credit for his idea of speaking out against capital punishment. He believes that she should have let him be the one to announce his position on the issue, and that she has stolen his thunder by doing so.

The other options are not accurate descriptions of the meaning of the idiom.

• Go on a futile search: This idiom is more accurately described as "go on a wild-goose chase."
• Fail miserably at something: This idiom is more accurately described as "flop."
• Pass wrong judgments: This idiom is more accurately described as "prejudice."