Burst the bubble

Meaning

The idiom "burst the bubble" means to rupture or destroy a happy or pleasant situation, especially one that has been prolonged. It can also mean to expose an unpleasant truth or to ruin someone's reputation or plans.

Usage

• The news about John's promotion was met with skepticism and criticism, bursting the bubble of excitement.
• My first marathon started off great, but I hit a wall in the last few miles, bursting my bubble of confidence.
• After months of planning their dream vacation, the couple found out their hotel had cancelled their reservation without any explanation, bursting their bubble.
• The sudden end to the successful reality show left fans feeling betrayed and disappointed, bursting their bubble of excitement.
• When I revealed my true intentions for our relationship, my partner was shocked and hurt, bursting my bubble of innocence.

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom is unclear, but it has been in use since at least the 19th century. One theory suggests that it comes from the idea of bursting a soap bubble, which can be seen as symbolic of ruining someone's happy or pleasant state of mind. Another theory suggests that it comes from the idea of breaking a person's bubble of innocence or naivety.

Synonyms in English

• Pop the bubble
• Snap out of it
• Ruin the mood
• Bring someone down to earth
• Break the spell

Synonyms in other languages

• French - POPER (popper)
• German - ZUDECKEN (to cover up)
• Spanish - ESTALLAR (to explode)
• Italian - DISSOLVERE (to dissolve)
• Portuguese - DESMORONAR (to shatter)

Similar Idioms

• if wishes were horses, beggars would ride

• big gun

• building blocks