Meaning: To discourage or dampen enthusiasm for a plan or idea.
Hindi: किसी योजना पर निराशा व्यक्त करना / हतोत्साहित करना
Synonyms: discourage, dampen, dishearten, deter
Asked in: SSC Steno 2026 T-1 · SSC Selection Post Ph-13 2025 · SSC CGL 2025 T-1
throw cold water on in SSC previous-year questions
- SSC Selection Post Ph-13 2025 Idioms & Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the given idiom/phrase from the options:
"Throw cold water on something"Answer & explanation
Answer: A) To discourage
The idiom 'Throw cold water on something' means to discourage or dampen enthusiasm for a plan or idea.
Option 1 (To discourage) is correct as it accurately conveys the idiomatic meaning.
Option 2 (To cool down) is wrong because it is a literal interpretation, not the idiom's meaning.
Option 3 (To wash something) is wrong as it is unrelated to the figurative meaning.
Option 4 (To celebrate) is wrong because it is the opposite of discouraging. - SSC CGL 2025 T-1 Idioms & Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of idiom: 'Throw cold water on'
Answer & explanation
Answer: B) To oppose or discourage
'Throw cold water on' means to discourage or dampen enthusiasm for something.
Example: His boss threw cold water on his new idea.
Answer: To oppose or discourage - SSC Steno 2026 T-1 Idioms & Phrases
Choose the correct meaning of the idiom:
Throw cold water onAnswer & explanation
Answer: C) Discourage an idea
Meaning: throw cold water on = to discourage an idea or plan, to dampen enthusiasm for it *(उत्साह ठंडा करना, हतोत्साहित करना)*.
The picture is literal enough — cold water put out a fire, and the fire here is somebody's eagerness.
The manager threw cold water on the proposal, and the team dropped it.
Why the others are wrong.
• Encourage a plan = to support and hearten it *(प्रोत्साहित करना)* — the exact opposite of what cold water does.
• Make something successful = to cause it to succeed *(सफल बनाना)* — again the reverse sense.
• Celebrate a success = to rejoice over an achievement *(सफलता का जश्न मनाना)* — the idiom kills a plan, it does not mark a win.
Word help.
dampen = to reduce or de
Examples
- “The manager threw cold water on the new marketing idea.”
throw cold water on – questions
What is the meaning of throw cold water on in Hindi?
throw cold water on means “किसी योजना पर निराशा व्यक्त करना / हतोत्साहित करना” in Hindi. In English: To discourage or dampen enthusiasm for a plan or idea.
What are the synonyms of throw cold water on?
Synonyms of throw cold water on: discourage, dampen, dishearten, deter.
What is the opposite of throw cold water on?
Antonyms of throw cold water on: encourage, support.
Has throw cold water on been asked in SSC exams?
Yes – throw cold water on has been asked 3 times in SSC exams: SSC Steno 2026 T-1, SSC Selection Post Ph-13 2025, SSC CGL 2025 T-1.