buzzkill

American  

[buhz-kil] / ˈbʌzˌkɪl /

Or buzz kill

noun

Slang.

1. a person or thing that spoils the mood or the pleasure of others.

   Enforcement of strict park rules could be a buzzkill for concertgoers.

---

buzzkill British  

/ ˈbʌzˌkɪlə, ˈbʌzˌkɪl /

noun

1. slang someone or something that stops people from enjoying themselves

---

Etymology

Origin of buzzkill

First recorded in 1990–95; buzz ( def. ) (in the sense “feeling of excitement”) + kill ¹ ( def. ) (in the sense “to spoil”)

Example Sentences

Not to be a buzzkill, but mostly to create a buffer between “ooh, I want that” and “click to purchase.”

From Salon

It’s a buzzkill to see the military arrive a few minutes into the movie and shut the bash down.

From Los Angeles Times

“Sometimes it can be a bit of a buzzkill,” said Eric May, a 36-year-old in Columbus, Ohio, who works at a financial-technology company.

From The Wall Street Journal

He calls it The Dean Wormer effect, named for the buzzkill college official who is dead set on getting in the way of the Delta Tau Chi House’s good time.

From Salon

The biggest buzzkill when planning a big vacation?

From The Wall Street Journal