Cold Hits Like A Wet Blanket

Today’s Dallas Morning News ran that headline on page one, “Cold Hits Like A Wet Blanket.”

Yesterday’s temperature was in the upper 70’s. Within the span of about 5 minutes, while driving home from work last night, it dropped over 30 degrees. It’s been dropping ever since. Right now it’s slightly below freezing and still dropping.

By the way, I realize those blankets aren’t yet wet, but they could be. Fast. If needed.

Admittedly, it is a bit odd for the temperature to be in the upper 70’s one day and in the low 20’s the next. But such is life around here today.

That wet blanket phrase sure gets used a lot so I wondered from whence it came. Here’s the answer according to the Online Etymology Dictionary:

Wet blanket (1830) is from the notion of a person who throws a damper on social situations like a wet blanket smothers a fire.

Today, our wet blanket isn’t a person. It’s the weather. It is wet. And cold. And the sleet/ice/snow are expected any time. By the way, projectile vomiting will ensue the next time I hear somebody use the phrase, “winter blast.”