Dictionary

wet blanket en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

Suggesting that such a person would extinguish fun in the same manner a wet blanket can smother and extinguish a fire.

Meanings

1. (derogatory, endearing, idiomatic, usually) A person who takes the fun out of a situation or activity, as by pessimism, demands, dullness, etc.
2. (derogatory, idiomatic, mildly) A timid person; one who lacks confidence; a wimp.
3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see wet, blanket.

Forms

Deriveds

throw a wet blanket on

Synonyms

killjoy · wet blanket · stick in the mud · joy killer · spoilsport · killjoy · fun sponge · wet rag · miserabilist · grouch · buzzkill · sourpuss · buzzkill · spoilsport · grinch · party-pooper · marplot · downer · cold fish · addle-plot · dampener · curmudgeon

Translations (30)

sv glädjedödare (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · pt estraga-prazeres (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · pl malkontentka (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · it guastafeste (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · fr pisse-froid (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · pl smutas (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · ca aixafaguitarres (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · da lyseslukker (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · nl spelbreker (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · yi זויערע אוגערקע (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · ca esgarriacries (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · de Spaßbremse (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · de Spielverderber (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · de Miesmacher (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · pl malkontent (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · de Miesmacherin (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · hu ünneprontó (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · pl maruda (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · pt desmancha-prazeres (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · es aguafiestas (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · pl smutaska (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · ru зануда (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · sv dystergök (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · cmn 掃興者 /扫兴者 (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · cs suchar (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · fr rabat-joie (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · fi ilonpilaaja (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · es sosaina (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · pl drewniak (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity) · nl spelbreekster (someone who takes the fun out of a situation or activity)

wet blanket en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

Suggesting that such a person would extinguish fun in the same manner a wet blanket can smother and extinguish a fire.

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of wet-blanket.
   alt of wet-blanket
   • I say almost because I could still hear Ted trying his best to wet blanket Webster's Halloween costume idea. 2014, Helen Oyeyemi, Boy, Snow, Bird, →ISBN:
   • The secretary of the state retail association recently seen wet blanketed the whole thing, doubting the possibility of representative figures, or of getting the dealers to tell the truth, at least when business was poor and they begin to cut the prices of their competitors. 1926, United States. Forest Service, Forest Research Bi-Monthly Report, page 33:
   • Nevertheless there is a certain handicap to the child who has been snubbed, mocked, jeered, wet blanketed and undervalued. 1911, American Motherhood - Volumes 32-33, page 311:

Forms