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.

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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.).

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wet blanket British  

noun

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

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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.”

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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]

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Etymology

Origin of wet blanket¹

First recorded in 1655–65

Origin of wet-blanket²

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

What’s Next: The court injunction could keep the deal in limbo for months as litigation unfolds and possibly throw a wet blanket on other transactions in the media.

From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026

She said she knows people at work roll their eyes and maybe think she’s kind of a wet blanket with all of her hand-wringing about plastic waste.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 31, 2023

Hemsworth played Gale Hawthorne, loyal friend and hunting partner to Katniss Everdeen who transformed into something of a wet blanket.

From Salon • Jul. 8, 2023

Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan threw a wet blanket on his team’s hot start.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 7, 2023

Sweat beaded on my forehead as that pressure from earlier in the day smothered me like a wet blanket.

From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia