In one of the French courses I’m taking, there’s a phrase “le bonnet de nuit” defined in English as “nightcap (fig. wet blanket)”. I know the word “nightcap” as referring to having a last drink before bed, but if that’s what this is referring to, then I don’t get why it says “fig. wet blanket”. A figurative “wet blanket” means, as far as I know, someone who’s prone to crying. Does “nightcap” mean something else in UK slang that I’m not familiar with, that relates to a figurative wet blanket? What does this French phrase actually mean?
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Bonnet de nuit, bonnet porté autrefois pour dormir ; familièrement personne morose, rabat-joie.
(if you have that from a certain no-typing course, beware…)
I can not think of an equivalent to the English “nightcap” as a drink before bed.
We have “un dernier pour la route”, a last one for the road, which could be used in such case but not quite appropriate in that particular case.
A wet blanket is a party pooper even if it is more associated to cowardice.
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Hello @cos
I’ll try my hand at this one.
Wet blanket is a figurative expression for someone who dampens the air or spoils all the fun.
Literally, Bonnet de nuit in French means just that, a night “hat” cap, not a night cap as in drinking. As far as I know.
There is an expression in French
Être triste comme un bonnet de nuit. Par ext. Quel bonnet de nuit ! personne triste, ennuyeuse.
Which fits in more with the “wet blanket” person spoiling all the fun.
That said now I am wondering how to say “a little drink before you go to bed” in French!
Sorry if I can’t add more for UK “slang”… maybe there should be a forum for that?
Flamentrose
Feeling sad about Brexit…
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I did not know that one. Interesting.
Kind of more anger than sadness, but very aware of the English ability to sit the fence for so long, I guess they fell backwards that time. Not sure if on their head or their butt with that one. 
(I don’t feel angry at all about the Brexit…but angry that the Spaniards chose to stay home instead of voting)
Oh, interesting! So that English definition is actually giving me two different meanings for “bonnet de nuit” - it literally means a kind of cap, and is also used in expressions to mean a wet blanket. The reason it confused me is that it seemed like the part in parentheses was trying to explain / enhance the definition, not give a second separate meaning. Thanks!