rain on someone's parade
English
WOTD – 27 September 2009
Etymology
First appeared around 1900.[1]
Pronunciation
Audio (AU) (file)
Verb
rain on someone's parade (third-person singular simple present rains on someone's parade, present participle raining on someone's parade, simple past and past participle rained on someone's parade)
- (figuratively) To disappoint or discourage someone by ruining or criticising their plans or aspirations.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:put a damper on
- I hate to rain on your parade, but lots of people have tried that strategy and it hasn't worked yet.
- 1964, Bob Merrill; Jule Styne (lyrics and music), “Don't Rain on My Parade”, in Funny Girl, performed by Barbra Streisand:
- If someone takes a spill / It's me and not you / Who told you you're allowed / To rain on my parade?
Translations
to disappoint or discourage someone
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See also
- rock the boat
- make waves
- upset the applecart
- burst someone's bubble
- put a damper on
- wet blanket
- killjoy
- party pooper
- spoilsport
- stick in the mud
- piss on someone's bonfire
- yuck someone's yum
References
- Christine Ammer (2013) The Dictionary of Clichés, Skyhorse, →ISBN