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...

Related

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

Categories
Opposites
emotional impact on others

rain on paradeencourage

Urge forward with support

cheer on · support · hearten · uplift · encouragement

supportiveness of celebration

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

social support behavior

rain on paradehave someone's back

Offer reliable support

give the green light · roll out the red carpet · jump on the bandwagon · toast · congratulate

Family

rain, parade, rains, rained, raining, rainy, rainiest, parades, paraded

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G