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
Rain rolled into the Bay Area just in time to put a damper on most people's outdoor President's Day holiday fun.
—
John Ramos, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
Inclement weather put a damper on the States Up Invitational, but Texas State softball still managed to go 2-2, bringing its overall record to 5-4.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026
Don’t let any drama put a damper on quality time with your friends.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
While he was nominated for Best New Artist last year, the Los Angeles wildfires put a damper on many of the events leading up to the big night.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for put a damper on
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John Ramos, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
Inclement weather put a damper on the States Up Invitational, but Texas State softball still managed to go 2-2, bringing its overall record to 5-4.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026
Don’t let any drama put a damper on quality time with your friends.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
While he was nominated for Best New Artist last year, the Los Angeles wildfires put a damper on many of the events leading up to the big night.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for 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 Feb. 2026.
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