wet rag
- noun
- Offensive
:
inútil
- Everyone expected Tom to lead the project, but he turned out to be a wet rag.
Examples
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His pessimistic attitude made him the wet rag of the group.
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I feel like a wet rag after that meeting.
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Don't be such a wet rag—try to enjoy the party!
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Don't be such a wet rag at the party!
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Don't be such a wet rag—try to enjoy the party!
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His pessimistic attitude made him the wet rag of the group.
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Everyone expected Tom to lead the project, but he turned out to be a wet rag.
Synonyms
A person or thing that should be exciting but is disappointing
How Energetic
Surface Forms
Morphology
wet + rag
The phrase maps a literal object property (a 'wet rag' is limp and useless) onto a person, so a learner who knows 'wet' and 'rag' can often infer a general sense of someone weak or ineffective. However, the personality meaning is a figurative, informal extension and the precise social nuance (lack of enthusiasm or impact) is not fully predictable from the words alone, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Wet rag: The phrase comes from the picture of a limp, soaked cloth — a wet rag is heavy, soft and cannot do its job, so it looks useless. That's why calling someone a wet rag means they are 'not energetic' or 'ineffective'.