… Bachelors are a mighty happy people, Kelly, and old Mussolini must keep them on his side if he wants to prosper.”Īs these examples prove, there are several ways that the phrase was used prior to 1964. “I am talking about a deuce who is acting like a king over in Italy. The paper published a story called “The Hotel Stenographer.” The quote reads: The Albany Evening News is the source of another example, dating to 1927. This makes the phrase slightly longer and far less pithy. The word “shed” is used in addition to “rain” in this example. This is a great example of how idioms can change slightly over time. It reads:įar be it from us, oh, patriotic plowmen, to shed rain on the parade, but neither would we have your valorous efforts all in vain! And that is why we are well prepared with all the things which make short-shrift of garden pests and parasite “The” is used in this version of the phrase rather than a possessive pronoun like “hers” or “his.” A few years later, there is another example from Narbeth Our Town. Home warned the entire party against letting Horace loose on the veranda of the Pelican Bay House when he first caught sight of the imprints of a pair of French heels would show up to “rain on the parade,” and Mr. Homesweet Home,” the following quote is used: There are a few examples from the early 1900s, such as the Schenectady Gazette from September 1912. But, there are records of the phrase being used before then in different forms. It appeared in the film Funny Girl, exposing the idiom to its widest audience. “Rain on someone’s parade” was popularized in 1964 with the song “Don’t rain on my Parade” by Bob Merrill. It could appear in characters’ dialogue or within a narrator’s depiction of a scene or event. That being said, it is possible to use this idiom within fiction, non-fiction, drama, and even poetry. It no longer sounds interesting or sparks the reader’s imagination. There are many different ways to phrase this idiom, so readers shouldn’t be surprised to find some of those versions replacing “rain on someone’s parade.” If a phrase is used too much, it loses its original effect. As is the case with most idioms, this one is boarding on cliché, something that writers are not fond of when it comes to creating narration or dialogue. Writers use “rain on somebody’s parade” in the same way and for the same reasons that the phrase is used in everyday conversations. Why Do Writers Use “Rain on someone’s parade?” Did you hear what the teacher said to him? She really rained on his parade.

She was just being cruel when she rained on his parade.I hope no one comes along and rains on our parade today.This is a perfect example of what it means to rain on someone’s parade.It was only after they rained on his parade that he got upset.This is a prime example of what it means to rain on someone’s parade. The child’s mood immediately plummets, and they lose all confidence in their outfit. The parent comes into the room and tells them that they look ridiculous and need to change. These are all examples of situations in which someone might use a version of “rain on someone’s parade.” The word “someone” can be replaced with any possessive pronoun.Ī child is getting ready for school and feeling excited about the clothes they’ve chosen to wear that day. One person might make fun of another’s excitement, give a piece of unneeded news, or try, on purpose, to ruin another person’s day. For example, one friend might say to another, “You didn’t have to rain on her parade.” Someone might use the phrase “rain on someone’s parade” when they want to chastise another person for their actions. But, this also means that it’s used quite a bit and may not today have the effect it did when it was first coming into common use in the 1900s. This means that any person can find an opportunity to use it. It is not defined by any specific event, time, place, or circumstance. It’s possible to use “rain on someone’s parade” in a wide variety of situations. Just like rain would ruin a festive parade, so too does this metaphorical rain ruin someone’s metaphorical parade. The “rain” is a symbol for whatever the bad news is, and the “parade” a symbol for the person’s previously optimistic state of mind. It’s something they don’t want to hear, and that shifts how they understand a situation. It refers to the act of ruining someone’s mood by giving them a piece of information. The idiom “rain on someone’s parade” is an interesting and versatile one.

Another phrase for rain on your parade