rain on parade
Ruin someone's joy
To rain on someone's parade is to spoil their enjoyment or dampen their enthusiasm, especially by introducing unwelcome news or negativity during a moment of celebration: I hate to rain on your parade, but the funding fell through.
The image is of bad weather ruining an outdoor festivity.
Often appears with hedging phrases like not to rain on your parade, but...
- spoilsportOne who dampens others' enjoyment
- buzzkillFun-spoiling person or thing
- dampenWet slightly or diminish
- killjoyOne who dampens merriment
- burst bubbleDestroy comforting delusion
burst your bubble · wet blanket · ruin · steal thunder · thunder · storm · dark cloud · gloom · doom and gloom · downer · crush · disappointment · party pooper · deflate · discourage · damper · clouds · drizzle
- setbacksfailing, back to square one, stuck, losing, stumbles
- Weather Idiomsunder the weather, weather the storm, calm before the storm, every cloud has a silver lining, silver lining
- grumpsgrouch, grump, curmudgeon, sourpuss, crank
- meddlingmeddle, meddler, butt in, horn in, intrude
rain on paradeencourage
Urge forward with support
cheer on · support · hearten · uplift · encouragement
rain on paraderoll out the red carpet
Welcome someone with great ceremony
make someone's day · jump on the bandwagon · hype up · gas up · add fuel to the fire
rain on paradehave someone's back
Offer reliable support
give the green light · roll out the red carpet · jump on the bandwagon · toast · congratulate
rain, parade, rains, rained, raining, rainy, rainiest, parades, paraded