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wet blanket

noun
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Definition of wet blanket

: one that quenches or dampens enthusiasm or pleasure
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Examples of wet blanket in a Sentence

I'd love to go to the party, but with my cold, I'm afraid I'd just be a wet blanket.
Recent Examples on the Web Volunteers kept some of them from asphyxiating by keeping them on land wrapped in wet blankets, or in shallow tubs of water with tiny life jackets. — Washington Post, "About 300 sea turtles die in Mexico from red tide," 9 Jan. 2020 On many others, poorly-equipped authorities have tried to tackle fires with little more than jerry cans of water and wet blankets. — Peter Schwartzstein, National Geographic, "Iraq races to save last of Middle East's forests from burning," 22 July 2019 The news of the salary-cap snag at least temporarily throws a wet blanket over news of the Davis deal, and could eventually suffocate its promise altogether. — Bill Plaschke, latimes.com, "After Anthony Davis trade, can Lakers GM Rob Pelinka be trusted to fill roster?," 17 June 2019 Leon Valley Police Chief Joe Salvaggio said one of the men grabbed the shark by the tail while the other two people involved wrapped it in a wet blanket. — Samuel Chamberlain, Fox News, "Shark swiped from San Antonio Aquarium in baby stroller; suspect reportedly confesses," 30 July 2018 With the internet now a dominant social force, Tenner is ready with his wet blanket. — Gal Beckerman, New York Times, "What Silicon Valley Could Use More Of: Inefficiency," 4 June 2018 The Swedes’ approach to this match threw a wet blanket over whatever possibility the occasion might have otherwise presented. — Andrew Keh, New York Times, "England Takes Another Step Toward Bringing ‘It’ Home," 8 July 2018 Gregg Hutson’s shady backyard would be a wet blanket for most gardeners. — Anne Marie Chaker, WSJ, "Don’t Forget to Water the Logs: Mushrooms Are in for Home Gardens," 11 June 2018 The humidity was oppressive, the gray a wet blanket. — Jenny Rough, Washington Post, "Where you live has a bigger impact on happiness and health than you might imagine," 14 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wet blanket.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of wet blanket

1844, in the meaning defined above

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Time Traveler for wet blanket

Time Traveler

The first known use of wet blanket was in 1844

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Statistics for wet blanket

Last Updated

20 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Wet blanket.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wet%20blanket. Accessed 21 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for wet blanket

wet blanket

noun

English Language Learners Definition of wet blanket

informal : a person who makes it difficult for other people to enjoy themselves by complaining, by showing no enthusiasm, etc.

See the full definition for wet blanket in the English Language Learners Dictionary

More from Merriam-Webster on wet blanket

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for wet blanket

Spanish Central: Translation of wet blanket

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