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

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

Huddled together under a wet blanket, Tree and Birdie didn’t know the house was on fire until the basement filled with smoke.

From New York Times • Oct. 19, 2022

As much as I like the tall-grass perfume of Picoso’s tortillas, I find that their thickness can, on occasion, serve as a wet blanket, smothering fillings that the kitchen has so meticulously prepared.

From Washington Post • Mar. 14, 2022

Seattle may have woken up under a wet blanket of snow this morning, but summer concert announcement season is officially upon us.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 22, 2022

He had to wrap his hands in the wet blanket to keep them from burning as he held the kettle.

From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman