wet blanket: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, Figurative
Quick answer
What does “wet blanket” mean?
A person who dampens enthusiasm, ruins fun, or spoils a cheerful mood.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who dampens enthusiasm, ruins fun, or spoils a cheerful mood.
A person, thing, or event that has a depressing, discouraging, or inhibiting effect on a situation, conversation, or group's spirit.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The idiom is equally common and understood in both varieties.
Connotations
Universally negative, connoting a killjoy, but not necessarily malicious. The person might be overly cautious, pessimistic, serious, or simply not in the mood.
Frequency
Common in both varieties, a well-established idiom.
Grammar
How to Use “wet blanket” in a Sentence
[Subject] is/acts as a wet blanket.[Subject] threw a wet blanket on [event/idea/plan].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “wet blanket” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He tends to wet-blanket any suggestion of going out late.
American English
- She wet-blanketed our plans for a road trip with practical concerns.
adjective
British English
- He had a wet-blanket effect on the team's morale.
American English
- Her wet-blanket attitude made the meeting drag on.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might describe someone who consistently shoots down innovative proposals with excessive caution.
Academic
Very rare; considered too informal.
Everyday
Common in social contexts to describe someone ruining a fun plan or mood.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “wet blanket”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “wet blanket”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “wet blanket”
- Using it as an adjective directly before a noun without 'a' (e.g., 'He's wet blanket person' is wrong. Correct: 'He's a wet blanket' or 'He's such a wet blanket').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, though less common. A new rule or a piece of bad news can be described as 'a wet blanket' on proceedings.
It is critical and informal, but not a severe insult. It expresses frustration with someone's negative or damping attitude.
A 'pessimist' generally has a negative outlook. A 'wet blanket' specifically acts in a way that dampens the enthusiasm or fun of others in a social setting.
Yes, in informal usage, often hyphenated ('to wet-blanket'), meaning to discourage or pour cold water on an idea.
A person who dampens enthusiasm, ruins fun, or spoils a cheerful mood.
Wet blanket is usually informal, figurative in register.
Wet blanket: in British English it is pronounced /ˌwet ˈblæŋ.kɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌwet ˈblæŋ.kɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Don't be such a wet blanket!”
- “He threw a wet blanket on the whole idea.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a happy campfire (the fun). Someone throws a wet blanket on it (puts it out). That person is the 'wet blanket' who puts out the social fire.
Conceptual Metaphor
ENTHUSIASM IS FIRE / A PERSON IS A BLANKET (that extinguishes fire).
Practice
Quiz
What is the closest synonym for 'wet blanket' in the sentence: 'Mark is such a wet blanket; he never wants to try anything new'?