水を差す

Word by word

water · ACC · pour in

Idiomatic sense

To pour cold water on a mood, a plan, or a conversation, so that the warmth goes out of it. Also, to come between two people and cool the relationship off.

There is a literal use, pouring water in, or diluting a drink. Context decides. In the idiomatic use, the water is not in a cup. Someone has said the deflating thing, or meddled.

Examples

1. 盛り上がっているところに水を差すつもりはない。

   I don't mean to throw cold water on the mood.

2. 二人の仲に、余計な一言が水を差した。

   One needless remark drove a wedge between them.

Equivalents

Marks say how far the other phrase travels with this one. How to read them.

1. near

   English

   to throw cold water on

   Very close for the mood and the plan. English uses this less readily for estranging two people. That part of the Japanese range needs the second example.

2. near

   English

   to put a damper on

   Same cooling of enthusiasm. A damper is a different object, and the job is the same.

3. near

   Chinese

   泼冷水

   To splash cold water, usually on a plan or a person's enthusiasm. A close figure.

4. partial

   German

   jemandem die Tour vermasseln

   To spoil someone's outing or plan. Rougher, and aimed at a person more than at a mood in the room.

Notes

注す is also written when the meaning is the literal pour. For the idiom, 差す is the spelling to use. A listed variant 刺す exists in JMdict; it is easy to misread as stab, and this book does not recommend it.

The phrase does not mean to water a plant, and it does not mean to add a measured amount for a recipe, once the context is social.

Sources

• Headword confirmed in JMdict (EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0), with a literal pour-or-dilute sense and an idiomatic sense covering hindrance, a damper, and estranging people. Examples here are original.