Sorry to ‘Rain on Your Parade’

 

Now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning¹ English.

This program explores common expressions in American English.

We talk about them a little more in depth. We give you examples on when and how to use them. We also give you a little backstory on how the expressions began.

Now, today we talk about something found everywhere in the world: rain.

If you have ever planned an outdoor party or picnic, you know that nothing puts a damper on outdoor fun like rain! In other words, rain can limit your fun – or even make you cancel your party.

So, that is the theme of today’s show – ruining a good time, or to use a weather expression, raining on someone’s parade.

To understand this expression, we first need to talk about a parade.

A lot of planning goes into a parade. It often involves richly decorated vehicles and marching bands with valuable instruments. Some parade floats -- as the decorated vehicles are called -- have speakers and expensive electronics². Sometimes famous people travel in parades, waving from the open tops of fancy³ convertible⁴ cars. Streets are closed and people line the sidewalks to watch.

Whether in a big city or small town, rain on parade day affects everything! That is why the expression “to rain on someone’s parade” means we lessen⁵ someone’s excitement or fun.

Or worse. Maybe we even ruin their plans.

They are really looking forward to something and we pop their balloon – another expression meaning to ruin someone’s good time. Imagine if you will, a child playing with a balloon and you came along and popped it. The good time playing with the balloon is over.

Now, usually we do not like to pop someone’s balloon or rain on someone's parade. We do not want to be called a wet blanket. This is someone who ruins a very good time and brings everybody down. Imagine, again, curling⁶ up on a cold day with a wet blanket. Yuck.

Besides “wet blanket,” we have other names to call these people who can ruin a good time. We can call them buzz⁷ kill, killjoy, party pooper, stick-in-the-mud, a drag or simply a downer. Those names are all interchangeable. However, if you need one to use in a more formal situation, do not pick “buzzkill” or “party pooper.”

While all of those names can describe a person, we can also use “drag,” “downer” and sometimes “buzzkill” to refer to the event.

So, we could say, “The party was a real drag. No one was having fun” or “The event I went to over the weekend was a downer.” I can even say, “The parents coming home to the party was a real buzzkill.”

Knowing when to use these expressions is important. So, let’s go back to our parade expression. We often use “rain on someone’s parade” when we give bad but not very serious news.

Now, let’s hear these two classmates use it in a conversation.

A: Hey, do you want to come over tonight and study for our exam?

B: No. I’m going out with some friends tonight. Besides, didn’t you hear? Our exam has been rescheduled for next week.

A: Where did you hear that?

B: From Theo. He told me yesterday.

A: And you believed him?

B: Well, yeah. And I invited some friends to town. We’re going out to dinner and then a movie. I already made reservations⁸ and bought the tickets.

A: Well, I hate to rain on your parade, but, as usual, Theo doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I just talked to our teacher and our exam is definitely⁹ tomorrow.

B: Urgh! Wait until I see Theo!

If you do not want to use this parade expression, you can also simply say, “I hate to break it to you, but …” and then you break, or tell, the bad news.

On that note, I hate to rain on your parade but that is the end of this Words and Their Stories.

Until next time … I’m Anna Matteo.

Don't bring around a cloud

To rain on my parade

Don't tell me not to fly

I've simply got to

If someone takes a spill

It's me and not you

Who told you you're allowed

To rain on my parade …

Words in This Story

damper – n. something that discourages or deadens

float – n. a vehicle with a platform used to carry an exhibit¹⁰ in a parade

interchangeable – adj. capable¹¹ of being used in place of each other

formal – adj. suitable for a proper occasion

1 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

2 electronics   

n.电子器件，电子学，电子技术

参考例句：

• About 45000 people worked in electronics in Scotland.苏格兰约有4.5万人在电子行业工作。
• He wants to brush up his knowledge of electronics.他想温习他的电子学知识。

3 fancy   

n.想像力，幻想；喜好，爱；adj.想像的，时髦的，华丽装饰的，奢侈的；技巧的；vt.想象，自认为，喜好

参考例句：

• He seemed to have taken quite a fancy to her.他似乎相当喜欢她。
• I have a fancy that it's going to rain.我想大概要下雨。

4 convertible   

adj.可改变的，可交换，同意义的；n.有活动摺篷的汽车

参考例句：

• The convertible sofa means that the apartment can sleep four.有了这张折叠沙发，公寓里可以睡下4个人。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了。

5 lessen   

vt.减少，减轻；缩小

参考例句：

• Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
• They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。

6 curling   

n. 苏格兰的冰上掷石游戏, 头发的卷曲, 卷缩 动词curl的现在分词

参考例句：

• Curling hair styles are all the cry this year. 今年烫发的发型很流行。
• I love curling up in an armchair with a good book. 我爱在扶手椅上蜷作一团看我喜欢的书。

7 buzz   

v.充满了激动或活动的声音，发出低沉的声音

参考例句：

• My brain was in buzz.我的脑袋嗡嗡响。
• A buzz went through the crowded courtroom.拥挤的法庭里响起了一片乱哄哄的说话声。

8 reservations   

n.[法律]（权益等的）保留( reservation的名词复数 )；预订；保留地；保留意见

参考例句：

• Most of these workers are American Indians living on reservations. 这些工人中的大多数是住在居留地的美洲印第安人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Have you made the reservations for our holiday yet? 你为我们度假做好预订安排了吗？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。

10 exhibit   

vt.展览，展出，陈列；n.展览品；陈列品

参考例句：

• Next week those goods will exhibit in that shop. 下个星期，这些货物将在那家商店展出。
• The economy continued to exhibit signs of decline in September.9月份，经济继续呈现出衰退的迹象。

11 capable   

adj.有能力的，有才能的

参考例句：

• The new woman secretary was extremely clever and capable.这位新来的女秘书很是精明强干。
• Jim is capable at sports.吉姆擅长运动。