Jump to:

• wet blanket
  wet blanket

  noun

  a blanket dampened with water so as to extinguish a fire.
• wet-blanket
  wet-blanket

  verb (used with object)

  to extinguish (a fire) with a wet blanket.

wet blanket

¹ American  

noun

1. a blanket dampened with water so as to extinguish a fire.

2. a person or thing that dampens enthusiasm or enjoyment.

   Nobody asked him to join the group because he's such a wet blanket.

---

wet-blanket ² American  

[wet-blang-kit] / ˈwɛtˈblæŋ kɪt /

verb (used with object)

1. to extinguish (a fire) with a wet blanket.

2. to dampen the enthusiasm or enjoyment of (a person, group, etc.).

---

wet blanket British  

noun

1. informal a person whose low spirits or lack of enthusiasm have a depressing effect on others

---

wet blanket Cultural  

1. Someone who dampens enthusiasm: “We were all having a good time until Harold walked in and started acting like a wet blanket.”

---

wet blanket Idioms  

1. A person who discourages enjoyment or enthusiasm, as in Don't be such a wet blanket—the carnival will be fun! This expression alludes to smothering a fire with a wet blanket. [Early 1800s]

---

Etymology

Origin of wet blanket¹

First recorded in 1655–65

Origin of wet-blanket²

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Wet blanket or no, even he would be better than no one in this old barn.

From A Blot on the Scutcheon by Knowles, Mabel Winifred