downer

Debbie Downer

One who is frequently or excessively pessimistic or discouraging, especially in a way that causes frustration, displeasure, or sadness for others. The phrase was popularized by the 2004 Saturday Night Live skit of the same name. A: "Ugh, this place is boring, and I'm tired of walking everywhere!" B: "Stop being such a Debbie Downer! We're in Paris, for goodness' sake—enjoy yourself a little!" I can't be around a Debbie Downer like Mitch anymore. He never gives our ideas a chance to succeed! Quit being a Debbie Downer and smile for the camera!

See also: downer

downer

1. A bad or depressing thing or situation. Geez, that movie was a real downer. Sorry, I'm being so quiet—this day was just a downer. How can you watch the news every night? You know going into it that it's gonna be a downer!

2. An unpleasant experience induced by drugs. No, I don't take that stuff anymore—I had a downer last time. A: "I'm kind of worried about Tommy because he seems to be having such a downer." B: "Eh, he'll be fine once the drug wears off." I gave up the drugs once most of my trips turned into downers.

3. A drug that acts as a sedative or a depressant. I guess those drugs were downers because they didn't give me the pick-me-up I'd hoped for. Don't you have some sort of prescribed downer you can take when your anxiety gets this bad? You rookie—benzos are downers. That's why you feel exhausted now.

have a downer on (one)

To dislike one. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. If the boss has a downer on you, I doubt you'll get a good performance review. A: "No matter who I date, my parents always have a down on them, it seems." B: "Well, no one will ever be good enough for their little girl." I don't know why you have a downer on Robert—he's such a nice guy to everyone!

See also: downer, have, on

put a downer on (something)

To inhibit something or make it less pleasant or enjoyable; to have a subduing or deadening effect on something. The foul weather really put a downer on our picnic yesterday. Without question, this tax scandal has put a downer on the senator's likelihood of being re-elected. The construction happening near our building has really put a downer on sales this month.

See also: downer, on, put

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

have a down on someone/something

or

have a downer on someone/something

BRITISH

If you have a down on someone or something or you have a downer on them, you do not like them or you disapprove of them. Snobs would have a down on a man with a south London accent. For some reason Jackie has always had a downer on me.

See also: down, have, on, someone, something

put a downer on something

If something or someone puts a downer on an event, they make it less enjoyable. The argument put a downer on our school holiday break.

See also: downer, on, put, something

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

downer

and down and downie

1. n. a barbiturate or a tranquilizer. (Drugs.) Too much booze with those downers, and you’re dead.

2. n. a bad drug experience; a down trip. (Drugs.) That stuff you gave me was a real downer.

3. n. a depressing event; a bad situation; a down trip. These cloudy days are always downers.

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.