put a damper on
idiom
: to make (something) less strong, active, or exciting
His bad mood put a damper on the celebration.
He was putting a bit of a damper on her spirits.
Examples of put a damper on in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Record-high home prices and mortgage rates nearing 7% have put a damper on the 2024 home-buying season so far, with many buyers opting to remain renters.
—
Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 11 June 2024
The four months of constant rain put a damper on it.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2024
The injury put a damper on Bedard’s first trip to the Tri-State area as an NHL pro.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2024
Limitations on credit have put a damper on new home construction, consumer spending, and business investment.
—John Paulson, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2017
See all Example Sentences for put a damper on 
Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 11 June 2024
The four months of constant rain put a damper on it.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2024
The injury put a damper on Bedard’s first trip to the Tri-State area as an NHL pro.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2024
Limitations on credit have put a damper on new home construction, consumer spending, and business investment.
—John Paulson, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2017
See all Example Sentences for put a damper on
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'put a damper on.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Put a damper on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put%20a%20damper%20on. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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