spoil-sport

A child calls his friend a spoil-sport for not wanting to play.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who spoils the enjoyment of others: "spoil-sport" refers to an individual who ruins the fun, pleasure, or amusement of a group, especially by refusing to participate or by enforcing strict rules.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Don't be such a spoil-sport; join us for the game! (A person who refuses to join in and thus ruins the fun for others.)
  • He was called a spoil-sport for cancelling the party at the last minute. (Someone who ends the enjoyment of an event.)

Advanced Usage

• "to act as a spoil-sport": to behave in a way that diminishes others' enjoyment.
  • She acted as a spoil-sport by pointing out all the potential dangers of the picnic. (She ruined the carefree mood by being overly cautious.)

Variants and Related Words

• Spoilsport (n): a variant spelling of "spoil-sport", used as a single word.
  • The referee was a spoilsport when he disallowed the goal for a minor foul. (The official ended the team's celebration.)

Synonyms

• Killjoy: a person who deliberately spoils the enjoyment of others.
• Party pooper: an informal term for someone who ruins a festive occasion.
• Wet blanket: a person who dampens the enthusiasm of a group.

Related Idioms

• To rain on someone's parade: to spoil someone's plans or pleasure.

  • He rained on our parade by announcing the budget cuts during the celebration. (He acted like a spoil-sport by bringing bad news.)

• To be a buzzkill: to end a positive, exciting, or fun atmosphere.

  • Her constant complaints were a buzzkill at the concert. (She was a spoil-sport who ruined the mood.)