rain on someone's parade

First appeared around 1900.[1]

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rain on someone's parade (third-person singular simple present rains on someone's parade, present participle raining on someone's parade, simple past and past participle rained on someone's parade)

1. (figuratively) To disappoint or discourage someone by ruining or criticizing their plans or aspirations.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:put a damper on

   I hate to rain on your parade, but lots of people have tried that strategy and it hasn't worked yet.

   • 1964, Bob Merrill, Jule Styne (lyrics and music), “Don't Rain on My Parade”, in Funny Girl, performed by Barbra Streisand:

     If someone takes a spill / It's me and not you / Who told you you're allowed / To rain on my parade?