pour/throw cold water on sth.对……泼冷水
to criticize someone's opinions or ideas and stop people believing them or being excited about them
意思是 “给一个想法、计划或情况泼冷水”。用 “pour” 所表达的否定态度没有 “throw” 那么强烈。如：
Since the President's election four years ago, he's been consistently cold-shouldered by the international community.
自从四年前总统当选以来，他一直受到国际社会的冷遇。
He wasn't discouraged when they threw cold water on his ideas.
他们对他的想法泼冷水时，他并不泄气。
Martin felt that cold water had been thrown on his plans after everyone laughed at his intentions.
在大家都嘲笑了他的意图后，马丁觉得自己的计划被泼了冷水。
He found himself being cold-shouldered by his former colleagues.
他发现自己被他的前同事们冷漠对待。
The boss poured cold water on my idea when he heard the proposed budget for the project.
老板听了我的项目预算提案后，给我泼了一盆冷水。
Roberta wanted to build a statue of her hero out of clay, but Jenkins threw cold water on the idea.
萝贝塔想为她的英雄建造一座土雕像，但詹金斯给这个想法泼了盆冷水。
The education secretary poured cold water on the recommendations of a working party.
教育大臣对一个工作小组的建议泼冷水。
City economists pour cold water on the idea that the economic recovery has begun.
伦敦金融城的经济学家给经济开始复苏的说法泼了冷水。