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

See Examples For:

wet blanket wet-blanket

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

In contradicting Archie’s combustible ignorance with facts and understanding, Meathead was often the wet blanket spoiling Archie’s good time in the tight Queens palace that the Bunkers and Stivics shared.

From Salon ● Dec. 21, 2025

“I don’t want to throw a wet blanket on it; the concept is great, and we have to put the plants back in the ground,” Tallamy said.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 25, 2023

If there’s one thing this cold, wet blanket of fog has taught me, though, it’s the importance of patience and acceptance.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 21, 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

The other, “unofficially helmed” by incoming White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, offers more of a wet-blanket counterweight to the lads who wish to blow everything up.

From Slate ● Nov. 26, 2024

There are a few ways Wallace could approach my wet-blanket line of boring, process-centric inquiry.

From Slate ● Oct. 19, 2016

Swisher is a better choice in a role that was recast from an early pilot, but there’s nothing interesting in her wet-blanket role so far.

From Time ● Aug. 10, 2012

Mel Ferrer, Ms. Hepburn’s husband, had a wet-blanket effect on the production in general and his wife in particular.

From New York Times ● Jun. 13, 2010

“I know Meg would wet-blanket such a proposal, but I thought you had more spirit,” began Laurie insinuatingly.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott