Rain on someone’s parade

Definitions

• spoil someone's plans or celebration
  To ruin or dampen someone's mood or excitement by causing an unexpected disappointment or problem. Often used as a warning or expression of sympathy.

• criticize or diminish someone's achievements or success
  To undermine or belittle someone's accomplishments or accomplishments, usually out of jealousy or resentment. Can also refer to bringing up negative consequences or consequences that may arise from their actions.

Examples of Rain on someone’s parade

• The news of the cancellation of the concert right before it was about to start was like rain on everyone's parade.

  This idiom is used to describe an unexpected and unwelcome event that ruins or spoils someone's enjoyment or plans. In this example, the cancellation of the concert just before it was about to start is compared to rain ruining a parade, as it spoils the enjoyment and plans of everyone who was looking forward to the concert.

Conclusion

This idiom is typically used to describe situations where someone or something negatively affects another person's mood or success. It can be used to warn someone of potential disappointment or to express sympathy when something goes wrong. It can also be used to describe someone who intentionally tries to diminish another person's achievements or success. In both cases, the effect is similar: to put a damper on someone's happiness or success.

Origin of "Rain on someone’s parade"

The origin of this idiom is uncertain, but it is believed to have originated in the early 20th century in the United States. The phrase "rain on someone's parade" is a metaphor for bad weather ruining an outdoor celebration or event. In the same way, someone or something can "rain on someone's parade" by ruining their plans or mood.

Some sources also suggest that the phrase may have originated from the theatrical world, where rain was often used as a special effect to create a dramatic or melancholic mood. In this context, "rain on someone's parade" could refer to a literal rainstorm ruining a parade or performance, and then evolved to be used in a figurative sense.

Regardless of its exact origin, "rain on someone's parade" has become a commonly used idiom in English and is often used in everyday conversations. Its versatility allows it to be used in a variety of situations, making it a useful phrase for expressing disappointment or criticism.