# turd in the punchbowl

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/turd-in-the-punchbowl
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Something that ruins or spoils everything else; a nuisance or problem; an unpleasant or disagreeable detail.

## Examples

- His constant complaining is a real turd in the punchbowl.
- The party was going well until he arrived and acted like a turd in the punchbowl, ruining the mood for everyone.
- While the team celebrated their successful project launch, the sudden arrival of the audit notice acted as a turd in the punchbowl, casting a shadow over their achievement.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.