Phrases & IdiomsIdiom guide
Rain on Someone's Parade
“Rain on someone’s parade” means to spoil another person’s plans or enjoyment. This guide covers the documented figurative meaning without claiming a precise inventor or first-use date.
It means to spoil someone’s plans, enthusiasm, or enjoyment.
Key details
Canonical Formrain on someone's parade
Core Meaningto do something that spoils someone’s plans, enthusiasm, or enjoyment
Further guidance
History Boundary
This guide establishes the current documented meaning and does not claim an exact inventor, coinage date, or absolute first use.
Meaning
To do something that spoils someone’s plans, enthusiasm, or enjoyment.
Usage Boundary
Use the expression in contexts matching the documented figurative meaning rather than treating a plausible origin story as established fact.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Rain on someone’s parade — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Current idiom meaning: spoil someone’s plans or enjoyment