A wet blanket

A wet blanket
Blanket Blan"ket, n. [F. blanchet, OF. also blanket, a woolen waistcoat or shirt, the blanket of a printing press; prop. white woolen stuff, dim. of blanc white; blanquette a kind of white pear, fr. blanc white. See {Blank}, a.] 1. A heavy, loosely woven fabric, usually of wool, and having a nap, used in bed clothing; also, a similar fabric used as a robe; or any fabric used as a cover for a horse. [1913 Webster]

2. (Print.) A piece of rubber, felt, or woolen cloth, used in the tympan to make it soft and elastic. [1913 Webster]

3. A streak or layer of blubber in whales. [1913 Webster]

Note: The use of blankets formerly as curtains in theaters explains the following figure of Shakespeare. --Nares. [1913 Webster]

Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark To cry, ``Hold, hold!'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{Blanket sheet}, a newspaper of folio size.

{A wet blanket}, anything which damps, chills, dispirits, or discour?ges. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Wet blanket — Wet Wet (w[e^]t), a. [Compar. {Wetter}; superl. {Wettest}.] [OE. wet, weet, AS. w[=ae]t; akin to OFries. w[=e]t, Icel. v[=a]tr, Sw. v[*a]t, Dan. vaad, and E. water. [root]137. See {Water}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Containing, or consisting of, water or …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • wet blanket — • wet blanket • kill joy person who discourages others from having fun He is a wet blanket so we never invite him to any parties. (from Idioms in Speech) a person who damps enthusiasm or checks ardour …   Idioms and examples

  • wet blanket — A wet blanket is someone who tries to spoil other people s fun …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • wet-blanket — /wet blang kit/, v.t. 1. to extinguish (a fire) with a wet blanket. 2. to dampen the enthusiasm or enjoyment of (a person, group, etc.). [1865 70] * * * …   Universalium

  • wet blanket — wet blankets N COUNT (disapproval) If you say that someone is a wet blanket, you are criticizing them because they refuse to join other people in an enjoyable activity or because they want to stop other people enjoying themselves. [INFORMAL] Syn …   English dictionary

  • wet blanket — [ US ˈ. ˌ..] n informal someone who seems to want to spoil other people s fun, for example by refusing to join them in something enjoyable that they are doing …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • wet blanket — noun count INFORMAL someone who spoils other people s fun by being negative and complaining …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • wet blanket — ► NOUN informal ▪ a person who spoils other people s enjoyment with their disapproving or unenthusiastic manner …   English terms dictionary

  • wet blanket — n. a person or thing whose presence or influence lessens the enthusiasm or joy of others …   English World dictionary

  • Wet Blanket Policy — Infobox Hollywood cartoon cartoon name = Wet Blanket Policy series = Woody Woodpecker caption = director = Dick Lundy story artist = Ben Hardaway Heck Allen animator = Fred Brunish Lester Kline Ken O Brien voice actor = Lionel Stander Ben… …   Wikipedia

  • wet blanket — {n.}, {informal} A person or thing that keeps others from enjoying life. * /The teenagers don t invite Bob to their parties because he is a wet blanket./ * /The weatherman throws a wet blanket on picnic plans when he forecasts rain./ Compare:… …   Dictionary of American idioms

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