泼冷水

潑冷水
pōlěngshuǐ
verb HSK 7 #24,617

Meanings

  1. 1 to pour cold water on; to dampen someone's enthusiasm

Examples

Bié lǎo shì gěi biérén pō lěngshuǐ.
Don't always dampen other people's enthusiasm.
Wǒ zhèng xīngfèn de shíhòu, tā pō le yī pén lěngshuǐ.
Just when I was excited, he poured cold water on me.

Tips

culture
This figurative expression works the same way as the English 'to pour cold water on something' — discouraging or dampening someone's enthusiasm or plans.

Stroke Order

lěng
shuǐ