What it means
A spoilsport is that person who drains the fizz out of everyone else's fun. They moan, refuse to join in, or suddenly get all sulky and make the whole vibe go flat. It's what you call someone who's being a proper mood-killer over harmless fun.
Usage examples
"She called off the water fight, total spoilsport, the sun was finally out."
"Do not be such a spoilsport, one more round of the game will not hurt."
"He played the spoilsport and made us turn the music down at ten."
"Come on, do not be a spoilsport, it is just a bit of harmless fun."
"Don't be a spoilsport, we've only just got the cards out."
Where it comes from
Spoilsport has been around since the 16th century. It's built from spoil and sport, with sport back then meaning play, fun, or amusement. So the word literally means someone who ruins the fun. The sense has stayed pretty steady for centuries as a mildly annoyed dig at a killjoy.
Other ways to say it
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