泼冷水

pō lěng shuǐ

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Rare

Definitions

1. (fig.) to dampen sb's enthusiasm

Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

鼓励

gǔ lì

to encourage

'泼冷水'是打消热情，'鼓励'则是激发热情

Register variants

1 item

浇冷水

jiāo lěng shuǐ

fig. to discourage

同义词，可互换，多用于口语

Related words

1 item

打击

dǎ jī

to hit

都可以表示使别人情绪低落，但'打击'多指对积极性或信心的打击

Synonyms

1 item

扫兴

sǎo xìng

to spoil things; to dampen spirits

两者都指打消别人的兴致，'扫兴'更侧重令人败兴，'泼冷水'侧重泼凉水降温

Usage notes

Collocations

常与'被'或'给'连用，如'给他泼冷水'。也可用于抽象事物，如'泼了冷水'。

Common mistakes

勿直译成'pour cold water'；需后接人或事物，表示让某人泄气。常说'给...泼冷水'或'被泼冷水'。

Example Sentences

1 shown

他正高兴，你别泼冷水。

He is just getting excited; don't dampen his spirits.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 泼冷水

unboiled water

water

to splash

cold