rain on someone's parade
Ruin someone's moment
To rain on someone's parade is to spoil their moment of happiness or dampen their enthusiasm with unwelcome news, criticism, or negativity: I hate to rain on your parade, but the numbers don't add up.
The image is of bad weather ruining an outdoor celebration.
The phrase often appears with apologetic softening: Not to rain on your parade, but...
- discouragementLoss of confidence
- throw cold water onDismiss or dampen enthusiasm
- cold waterFigurative enthusiasm killer
- buzzkillFun-spoiling person or thing
- spoilDamage or overindulge
killjoy · party pooper · sabotage · criticism · disappointment · burst someone's bubble · take the wind out of someone's sails · wet blanket · steal someone's thunder · undermine · throwing a wrench in the works · upset the apple cart · frustration · dismay · bitter pill · downer · interference · under a cloud
rain on someone's parademake someone's day
Cause great pleasure
lift someone's spirits · encourage · enrapture · delight · charm
parade, rains, raining, rainfall, rainstorm, raindrop, rained, raindrops, rainwater