pour cold water on
Kill someone's excitement
To pour cold water on something is to discourage or dampen enthusiasm for it: She poured cold water on his plan to quit and travel.
The image is of dousing a fire—extinguishing excitement or momentum with skepticism or negativity.
The phrase often describes responses to ideas or proposals that deflate rather than encourage.
Judge unfavorably, vocally
- disapproveJudge as wrong
- disparageExpress low opinion of
- belittleTo make something seem unimportant
- deprecateExpress earnest disapproval
find fault · object · censure · rebuke · denounce · pan · trash · knock
Prevent through intimidation
- dissuadeConvince not to
- cautionCareful attention to risk
- talk out ofPersuade someone not to
- divertCause to change course
sidetrack · disincline · redirect · second-guess · give pause
Wet slightly or diminish
- disheartenCause to lose hope
- deflateRelease air from
- demoralizeDestroy confidence or resolve
- dispiritCause to lose hope
discourage · deject · chill · quash · stifle · suppress · undermine · demotivate
Dismiss as unsuitable
- vetoOfficial refusal to approve
- dismissSend away or reject
- rebuffAbrupt, curt rejection
- shoot downattack from below
nix · turn down · spurn · thumbs-down · naysay · shut down · quash · block
Lack of firm belief
- questionRequest for information
- challengeTest of ability
- distrustAbsence of confidence
- disbelieveRefuse to credit
scrutinize · second-guess · mistrust · suspect · debunk · call into question
criticize
Judge unfavorably, vocally
- disapproveJudge as wrong
- disparageExpress low opinion of
- belittleTo make something seem unimportant
deprecate · find fault · object · censure · rebuke · denounce · pan · trash · knock · slam
deter
Prevent through intimidation
- dissuadeConvince not to
- cautionCareful attention to risk
- talk out ofPersuade someone not to
divert · sidetrack · disincline · redirect · second-guess · give pause
dampen
Wet slightly or diminish
- disheartenCause to lose hope
- deflateRelease air from
- demoralizeDestroy confidence or resolve
dispirit · discourage · deject · chill · quash · stifle · suppress · undermine · demotivate · burst bubble
reject
Dismiss as unsuitable
shoot down · nix · turn down · spurn · thumbs-down · naysay · shut down · quash · block · kibosh
doubt
Lack of firm belief
disbelieve · scrutinize · second-guess · mistrust · suspect · debunk · call into question