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
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
There’s one unknown that can put a damper on the season.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
But unseasonable rains and low temperatures put a damper on attendance at last year’s festival.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
A number of open seats haven't put a damper on the first few days of the session, and on Wednesday, the first bill passed.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for put a damper on
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Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2026
There’s one unknown that can put a damper on the season.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
But unseasonable rains and low temperatures put a damper on attendance at last year’s festival.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
A number of open seats haven't put a damper on the first few days of the session, and on Wednesday, the first bill passed.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 14 Jan. 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 13 Feb. 2026.
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