put a dampener on

phrase

British
: to make (something) less strong, active, or exciting
His bad mood put a dampener on the celebration.

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Cite this Entry

“Put a dampener on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put%20a%20dampener%20on. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

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