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

Strong winds and risks of possible tornadoes put a damper on some of the festivities in New Orleans, but many still hit the street for one of the city’s most famous celebrations. —Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2025

One of the judges who put a damper on President Trump's efforts to upend the federal government is now the target of two separate GOP impeachment measures. —Andrew Solender, Axios, 21 Feb. 2025

The reverse can be true, too, meaning that cuts in government spending can put a damper on the economy. —Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025

Think about portability Lugging a heavy or hard to carry beach umbrella or shade from your car and across a hot beach can certainly put a damper on your day. —Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2025

Rhymes for put a damper on

• ferrosilicon
• lycopersicon
• mesencephalon
• polysilicon
• stereopticon
• telencephalon
• agamemnon
• automaton
• diencephalon
• panopticon
• phenomenon
• aileron