pour cold water; discourage enthusiasm
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb phrase
to pour cold water on; to dampen enthusiasm; to discourage
informalA metaphor for discouraging someone by criticizing their ideas or enthusiasm, often unexpectedly. Synonymous with '泼冷水'.
Tā他
gāng刚
tí提
chū出
chuàng创
yè业
de的
xiǎng想
fǎ法
，
péng朋
you友
jiù就
gěi给
tā他
jiāo浇
lěng冷
shuǐ水
。
He had just proposed his business idea when his friend poured cold water on it.
Bú不
yào要
zǒng总
shì是
gěi给
hái孩
zi子
jiāo浇
lěng冷
shuǐ水
，
yào要
gǔ鼓
lì励
tā他
men们
cháng尝
shì试
。
Don't always pour cold water on children; encourage them to try.
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Tā他
de的
rè热
qíng情
bèi被
lǎo老
bǎn板
de的
jǐ几
jù句
huà话
jiāo浇
le了
lěng冷
shuǐ水
。
His enthusiasm was dampened by his boss's few words.