put a damper on
idiom
: to make (something) less strong, active, or exciting
His bad mood put a damper on the celebration.
He was putting a bit of a damper on her spirits.
Examples of put a damper on in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The weather forecast may put a damper on Halloween and trick-or-treating plans around Louisville Thursday with rain and winds predicted.
—
Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 30 Oct. 2024
But the attack that killed Haniyeh has put a damper on those hopes.
—Tamara Qiblawi, CNN, 14 Aug. 2024
The last couple of years, however—well, probably since COVID put a damper on all celebrations—I’ve stuck to just one.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024
But that hasn’t put a damper on the widespread impact of Blackmon’s signature track.
—Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for put a damper on 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 30 Oct. 2024
But the attack that killed Haniyeh has put a damper on those hopes.
—Tamara Qiblawi, CNN, 14 Aug. 2024
The last couple of years, however—well, probably since COVID put a damper on all celebrations—I’ve stuck to just one.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024
But that hasn’t put a damper on the widespread impact of Blackmon’s signature track.
—Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for put a damper on
Dictionary Entries Near put a damper on
Cite this Entry
“Put a damper on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put%20a%20damper%20on. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share