throw cold water on
Kill the mood
To throw cold water on something is to discourage or dampen enthusiasm for it.
The image is of dousing a fire—or perhaps someone's excitement: She threw cold water on the idea of moving to California.
The phrase usually implies unwelcome skepticism or negativity toward plans or proposals that others find appealing.
Cause to lose hope
- deflateRelease air from
- dispiritCause to lose hope
- demoralizeDestroy confidence or resolve
- undermineWeaken by stealth
demotivate · quash · stifle · suppress · chill · deject · disenchant · squelch
Prevent through intimidation
- dissuadeConvince not to
- cautionCareful attention to risk
- warnGive notice of peril
- talk out ofPersuade someone not to
rebuff · repel · divert · prevent · stop · halt · block · impede
Dismiss as unsuitable
- opposeAct against something
- objectTangible entity or aim
- rebukeExpress sharp disapproval
- scornHostile dismissive feeling
denounce · naysay · shoot down · veto · dismiss · rebuff · spurn · criticize
Unavoidable grim fate
- gloomPervasive dimness or dejection
- negativityDisposition toward pessimism
- defeatismAcceptance of inevitable failure
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
bleakness · hopelessness · naysaying · fatalism · wet blanket · party pooper · killjoy · spoilsport
Lack of firm belief
- questionRequest for information
- challengeTest of ability
- debunkExpose as false
- distrustAbsence of confidence
dispute · disbelieve · second-guess · puncture · undercut · scrutinize · interrogate · hesitate
dishearten
Cause to lose hope
- deflateRelease air from
- dispiritCause to lose hope
- demoralizeDestroy confidence or resolve
undermine · demotivate · quash · stifle · suppress · chill · deject · disenchant · squelch · extinguish
deter
Prevent through intimidation
talk out of · rebuff · repel · divert · prevent · stop · halt · block · impede · hinder
reject
Dismiss as unsuitable
scorn · denounce · naysay · shoot down · veto · dismiss · rebuff · spurn · criticize · condemn
doom
Unavoidable grim fate
- gloomPervasive dimness or dejection
- negativityDisposition toward pessimism
- defeatismAcceptance of inevitable failure
cynicism · bleakness · hopelessness · naysaying · fatalism · wet blanket · party pooper · killjoy · spoilsport · buzzkill
doubt
Lack of firm belief
distrust · dispute · disbelieve · second-guess · puncture · undercut · scrutinize · interrogate · hesitate
throw cold water onfire up
Excite into readiness
fan the flames · add fuel to the fire · stoke · spur on · galvanize
cold, water, throw, overthrow, thrown, discourage, dampen, throwing, throws