Rain on one's parade

Definitions

• to ruin someone's plans or happiness
  To spoil or dampen someone's mood or enjoyment, often intentionally and with malicious intent

Examples of Rain on one's parade

• Jane had been looking forward to her friend's birthday party all week, but as she stepped out of the car, the sky opened up and rain began to pour down. Jane's excitement deflated, and she felt like the rain had ruined her plans and put a damper on the festivities.

  The idiom "rain on one's parade" refers to an unexpected event or circumstance that disrupts or ruins someone's plans or enjoyment. In this example, the rain spoiled Jane's anticipation for the birthday party, causing her to feel disappointed and unhappy.

• Mark had been working on a big presentation for weeks, and he was confident that he would ace it in front of the board. However, as he began to speak, his computer froze, and he lost all of his notes. The board members looked on impatiently, and Mark felt like the technical glitch had ruined his chances of success.

  The idiom "rain on one's parade" can also be used to describe a situation where someone's performance or efforts are disrupted or hindered by external factors. In this example, the computer malfunction interrupted Mark's presentation and made it difficult for him to deliver his message effectively.

• Sarah had been practicing for her dance recital for months, and she was determined to perform flawlessly. However, as she took the stage, she tripped over her own feet and stumbled awkwardly. The audience gasped, and Sarah felt like the mistake had ruined her performance and embarrassed her in front of everyone.

  The idiom "rain on one's parade" can also be used to describe a situation where someone makes a mistake or fails in a public setting, causing them to feel embarrassed or disappointed. In this example, Sarah's misstep during the dance recital disrupted her performance and left her feeling embarrassed and disappointed.

• Jack had been planning a surprise party for his wife's birthday, but he accidentally spilled the beans to a friend who blabbed to his wife. Jack's wife was disappointed that the surprise was ruined, and Jack felt like he had let her down.

  The idiom "rain on one's parade" can also be used to describe a situation where someone's plans or surprises are spoiled by someone else's actions. In this example, Jack's friend's indiscretion ruined the surprise party, causing his wife to feel disappointed and Jack to feel guilty.

• Lisa had been looking forward to a relaxing weekend at the beach, but as she arrived, she found out that the hotel had overbooked and there were no more rooms available. Lisa felt like the situation had ruined her plans and left her feeling frustrated and disappointed.

  The idiom "rain on one's parade" can also be used to describe a situation where someone's plans or expectations are disrupted by unexpected circumstances. In this example, Lisa's disappointment at the hotel's mistake caused her to feel like the situation had ruined her weekend plans.

Conclusion

The idiom "rain on one's parade" is used to convey the idea of ruining someone's plans or happiness. It is often used in a figurative sense to describe the act of dampening someone's mood or enjoyment, usually with the intention of causing harm or displeasure. This phrase can be used in a variety of contexts, from personal relationships to professional situations, to describe the act of negatively impacting someone's experience.

Origin of "Rain on one's parade"

The origin of the idiom "rain on one's parade" is not entirely clear, but it is believed to have originated in the early 20th century. The phrase may have originated from the literal sense of rain literally ruining an outdoor parade or event, causing disappointment and frustration. However, it has since evolved to be used in a more figurative sense, describing any situation where someone's plans or happiness are ruined.

One theory suggests that the phrase may have originated from a popular song from the early 1900s called "Don't Rain on My Parade." The lyrics of the song include the line "Don't tell me not to live, just sit and putter, life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter." This line could be interpreted as not wanting anyone to spoil or ruin one's enjoyment of life.

Overall, the idiom "rain on one's parade" has become a commonly used phrase in English, conveying the idea of ruining someone's plans or happiness. Its origin may have stemmed from a literal meaning, but it has since evolved to be used in a more figurative sense in everyday language.