Put damper on

Meaning

The idiom "put damper on" means to ruin or spoil something, especially a party or celebration. It can also mean to dampen someone's spirits or enthusiasm.

Usage

• The unexpected rain put damper on the outdoor picnic.
• His bad mood put damper on the entire family gathering.
• The sudden cancellation of the concert put damper on everyone's plans for a fun evening out.
• She was disappointed by her performance and it put damper on her confidence as a dancer.
• The loss of their job put damper on their plans to move to a new house. The usage of the idiom can vary depending on the context. For example, if someone is describing a party or celebration that was ruined by rain, they would say "the rain put damper on it". However, if someone is describing someone's mood, they might say "his bad mood put damper on the entire family gathering."

Roots and History

The exact origin of the idiom is unclear, but it has been in use since at least the 18th century. One theory is that the phrase comes from the Scottish word "dampe," which means to make something wet or sodden. Another theory is that it comes from the phrase "dampen someone's spirits," which means to make someone feel downcast or discouraged.

Synonyms in English

• Dampen someone's mood
• Rain on someone's parade
• Spoil someone's fun
• Crash the party
• Ruin someone's day

Synonyms in other languages

• Enfant perdu (French) - lost child, used to describe someone who is upset or disappointed
• Dårligt ställning (Swedish) - bad mood, used to describe someone who is sullen or grumpy
• Kuluruk (Turkish) - gloomy, used to describe someone who is sad or depressed
• Tristeza (Spanish) - sadness, used to describe a feeling of sorrow or melancholy
• 哀愁 (Chinese) - grief or sorrow, used to describe a feeling of loss or disappointment

Similar Idioms

• pull a rabbit out of the hat

• pig in a poke

• pitch in