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

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

The title character, named Cassandra Webb and played by Dakota Johnson, is a wet blanket possessing few social skills and negligible personal warmth.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 14, 2024

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

Investors fear rising oil prices could supercharge inflation, eating away at consumer budgets and corporate balance sheets while tossing a wet blanket over the economy.

From Washington Post • Mar. 7, 2022

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