throw cold water on

English

WOTD – 1 June 2017

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /θɹəʊ kəʊld ˈwɔːtə(ɹ) ɒn/, /θɹəʊ kɔʊld ˈwɔːtə(ɹ) ɒn/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /θɹoʊ koʊld ˈwɔtɚ ɑn/, /θɹoʊ koʊld ˈwɔɾɚ ɑn/
  • (file)
  • Hyphenation: throw cold wa‧ter on

Verb

throw cold water on (third-person singular simple present throws cold water on, present participle throwing cold water on, simple past threw cold water on, past participle thrown cold water on)

  1. (transitive, idiomatic) (of an achievement, emotion, idea, suggestion, etc.) To belittle or dismiss; to cast doubt upon; to debunk.

Synonyms

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See also

Further reading

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