This program explores common expressions in American English . We talk about them a little more in depth . We give you examples on when and how to use them . We also give you a little backstory on how the expressions began . Now , today we talk about something found everywhere in the world : rain . If you have ever planned an outdoor party or picnic , you know that nothing puts a damper on outdoor fun like rain ! In other words , rain can limit your fun – or even make you cancel your party . So , that is the theme of today's show – ruining a good time , or to use a weather expression , raining on someone's parade . To understand this expression , we first need to talk about a parade . A lot of planning goes into a parade . It often involves richly decorated vehicles and marching bands with valuable instruments . Some parade floats -- as the decorated vehicles are called -- have speakers and expensive electronics . Sometimes famous people travel in parades , waving from the open tops of fancy convertible cars . Streets are closed and people line the sidewalks to watch . Whether in a big city or small town , rain on parade day affects everything ! That is why the expression “to rain on someone's parade ” means we lessen someone's excitement or fun . Maybe we even ruin their plans . They are really looking forward to something and we pop their balloon – another expression meaning to ruin someone's good time . Imagine if you will , a child playing with a balloon and you came along and popped it . The good time playing with the balloon is over . Now , usually we do not like to pop someone's balloon or rain on someone's parade . We do not want to be called a wet blanket . This is someone who ruins a very good time and brings everybody down . Imagine , again , curling up on a cold day with a wet blanket . Besides “wet blanket ,” we have other names to call these people who can ruin a good time . Those names are all interchangeable . However , if you need one to use in a more formal situation , do not pick “buzzkill ” or “party pooper .” While all of those names can describe a person , we can also use “drag ,” “downer ” and sometimes “buzzkill ” to refer to the event . So , we could say , “The party was a real drag . No one was having fun ” or “The event I went to over the weekend was a downer .” I can even say , “The parents coming home to the party was a real buzzkill .” Knowing when to use these expressions is important . So , let's go back to our parade expression . We often use “rain on someone's parade ” when we give bad but not very serious news . Now , let's hear these two classmates use it in a conversation . Hey , do you want to come over tonight and study for our exam ? I'm going out with some friends tonight . Besides , didn't you hear ? Our exam has been rescheduled for next week . Where did you hear that ? He told me yesterday . And you believed him ? And I invited some friends to town . We're going out to dinner and then a movie . I already made reservations and bought the tickets . Well , I hate to rain on your parade , but , as usual , Theo doesn't know what he's talking about . I just talked to our teacher and our exam is definitely tomorrow . Wait until I see Theo !