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
Tariffs have thrown many businesses that rely on imports into a loop and put a damper on consumer sentiment.
—
Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 27 May 2025
That slowdown, combined with the potential impact of Trump’s tariffs and any ensuing trade war, could put a damper on MSC’s profits.
—Giacomo Tognini, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
All of those failures put a damper on a night when Adell came through with one huge hit.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 5 July 2025
Turbulence in the region has also put a damper on nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for put a damper on
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 27 May 2025
That slowdown, combined with the potential impact of Trump’s tariffs and any ensuing trade war, could put a damper on MSC’s profits.
—Giacomo Tognini, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
All of those failures put a damper on a night when Adell came through with one huge hit.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 5 July 2025
Turbulence in the region has also put a damper on nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for put a damper on
Cite this Entry
“Put a damper on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put%20a%20damper%20on. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share