dampener on
1
7.1
- noun
- /ˈdæmpənər ɒn/
:
aguafiestas
- The unexpected rain really put a dampener on our picnic plans.
Examples
-
It was a real dampener on a great demo.
Blog text (13) -
Apart from putting a solid dampener on your general disposition, you'll find that getting adequate care right afterwards might not be as straightforward as using the NHS.
Blog text (4) -
The cancellation of the concert was a dampener on the excitement of the weekend.
-
Her negative comments served as a dampener on the team's enthusiasm for the project.
Synonyms
15
6.3
Something that makes people less excited about an event or plan
1
8.9
Someone or something that spoils excitement
1
4.6
Something that makes people feel less excited
A person or thing that makes a situation less exciting
A thing that makes people feel less confident or excited
Antonyms
How Dampening
Surface Forms
Morphology
dampener + on
The noun 'dampener' literally denotes something that dampens or reduces intensity, and the preposition 'on' marks the target affected (a dampener on our picnic = something that reduces enjoyment of the picnic). This is a productive, compositional pattern rather than an idiom, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would be able to infer the meaning.
Etymology
Dampener on may come from the simple image of pouring water on a fire or a party; the water makes the fire die and the fun go down. So a dampener 'on' something is 'something that spoils or reduces fun'.