English idiom

put a damper on

Register · Neutral CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

to make an event or mood less enjoyable and exciting

Word picture

Excitement is pictured as lively energy that becomes subdued when a damper is placed over it.

Example

“The sudden rain put a damper on our plans for an outdoor picnic.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

light at the end of the tunnel

A sign that a difficult period may soon improve or end.

blow off steam

to release pent-up energy or emotion through some activity

cut loose

to abandon restraint and behave freely or wildly

drive someone up the wall

to make someone feel extremely annoyed or frustrated

every which way

in every direction, often in a scattered or disorderly way

get on someone's nerves

to repeatedly irritate or annoy someone

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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