What Does it Mean to ‘Rain on Someone’s Parade’?

To rain on someone’s parade means —

• to spoil someone’s celebration;
• to ruin someone’s plans;
• to dampen someone’s enthusiasm.

This phrase calls to mind a vivid image of heavy rain spoiling the outdoor festivities and celebrations. It will definitely spoil people’s enjoyment and dampen their excitement.

Let’s see an example —

“I hate to rain on your parade but your brother met with an accident just now.”

I hate to spoil your fun, but your brother just met with an accident.

I hope you found this story interesting. If you did, buy my full course on Udemy or watch it for free on Skillshare by signing up here. This course covers nearly 380 idioms with their origins and backstories.

Hi, I am Gauri Shanker, a Vocab teacher and enthusiast. I teach vocabulary in a fun and engaging way. You can check out my courses here.