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
Further guidance
Contextual Examples
I hate to rain on your parade, but the venue is already booked that night.
She did not want to rain on their parade, so she waited until after the celebration to raise the concern.
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.
Meaning Boundary
It does not simply mean disagreeing; the image is specifically about dampening excitement or plans.
Practical Use
Use it when someone spoils another person’s plans, enthusiasm, or enjoyment by introducing unwelcome news or criticism.
Tone Boundary
Informal and sometimes playful, but it can sound dismissive when the concern being raised is serious.
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