throw cold water on

throw cold water on (something)

To temper the excitement or enthusiasm someone feels about something. After I passed the final exam, my teacher promptly threw cold water on my excitement by reminding me that I still have to go to summer school.

See also: cold, on, throw, water

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

pour/throw cold ˈwater on something

(informal) discourage or try to prevent a plan, etc. from being carried out; be unenthusiastic about something: I’ve had lots of ideas about how to improve sales but my manager pours cold water on all my suggestions.

See also: cold, on, pour, something, throw, water

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

throw cold water on

To express misgivings about or disapproval of; discourage.

See also: cold, on, throw, water

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.