Reader's question: I hate to rain on your parade, but your plans are all wrong. Could you explain “rain on one’s parade”?

My comments:

Imagine what would’ve happened if there were heavy rain back on October 1, the day when the People’s Republic celebrated its 60th birthday….

Yes, you’re right. The rain would’ve affected the parade of troops and airplanes, if not washing processions out entirely. That would’ve been a huge disappointment to all.

Hence, in the above example, to “rain on your parade” means to pour cold water over the other person’s plans for some potentially very significant and happy moment.

In other words, to rain on others’ parade is to be a killjoy.

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Go to Zhang Xin's column

本文仅代表作者本人观点，与本网立场无关。欢迎大家讨论学术问题，尊重他人，禁止人身攻击和发布一切违反国家现行法律法规的内容。

Zhang Xin has been with China Daily since 1988, when he graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Write him at: zhangxin@chinadaily.com.cn, or raise a question for potential use in a future column.