Dictionary

rain on someone's parade en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

First appeared around 1900.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) To spoil someone's celebration.
   • Sanju Baba, we learn, is rather miffed at the way Kunder rained on his parade and took away the spotlight from Agneepath's success. 2012 January 31, “Shah Rukh Khan, Shirish Kunder's drama ends”, in Times of India, Bollywood:
   • “Given that Europe is still shrouded by the cloud of recession, a weak PMI -- though not rain on the parade -- will surely damp investor sentiment,” said Manish Singh, the London-based head of investment at Crossbridge Capital 2012 February 22, “European Stocks Fall on Worse-Than-Expected PMI Data; TUI Drops”, in Bloomberg Business Week:
2. (figuratively) To disappoint or discourage someone by ruining or criticizing their plans or aspirations.
   • If someone takes a spill / It's me and not you / Who told you you're allowed / To rain on my parade? 1964, Bob Merrill, Jule Styne, “Don't Rain on My Parade”, in Funny Girl, performed by Barbra Streisand:
   • Umm... Not to rain on your parade, but wouldn't a more mature song be best? 2007 March 16, Capcom Production Studio 4, quoting Phoenix, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Justice for All, Europe: Capcom, →OCLC, Nintendo DS, scene: Part 3: Investigation, Circus Entrance, level/area: Turnabout Big Top:
   • I hate to rain on your parade, but lots of people have tried that strategy and it hasn't worked yet.

Forms

Relateds

yuck someone's yum · piss on someone's bonfire · throw cold water on · buzzkill · party pooper · spoilsport · put a damper on · burst someone's bubble · killjoy · rock the boat · make waves · upset the applecart · wet blanket · stick in the mud

Synonyms

piss in someone's Cheerios · shit in someone's cornflakes · put a damper on · take the wind out of someone's sails · piss on someone's bonfire · piss in someone's cornflakes · shit in someone's Cheerios · shit in someone's cereal · piss on someone's campfire · burst someone's bubble · upset the applecart · piss on someone's chips · piss in someone's cereal · rain on someone's parade

Translations (15)

pl zepsuć frajdę (to disappoint or discourage someone) · it rompere le uova nel paniere (to disappoint or discourage someone) · it mettere i bastoni tra le ruote (to disappoint or discourage someone) · fr doucher l'enthousiasme de (to disappoint or discourage someone) · ja 水を差す (to disappoint or discourage someone) · scn rumpiri l'ova ntô panaru (to disappoint or discourage someone) · ru ло́жка дёгтя (to disappoint or discourage someone) · fi kaataa kylmää vettä jonkun niskaan (to disappoint or discourage someone) · hu elrontja az örömét (to disappoint or discourage someone) · fr jouer les rabat-joie (to disappoint or discourage someone) · nl de feestvreugde bederven (to disappoint or discourage someone) · hu ünneprontó (to disappoint or discourage someone) · es lloverle el desfile (to disappoint or discourage someone) · de jemandem in die Suppe spucken (to disappoint or discourage someone) · pl psuć frajdę (to disappoint or discourage someone)