“Spoil” vs “Ruin”
My question is,
Can you spoil a moment? for example, let's say I bring home a gift for my girlfriend and she's very excited to know what's in the box, after I open up the box and show her what it is she responds to me I didn't like it. Can we say that she spoiled the moment? or should I say that she ruined the moment saying that?
This question comes from a doubt I had while watching a TV series episode where two people are making love to each other when one of them says something which one replied "Shush, you're spoiling it" which made me wonder whether spoil can also be used as ruin in that case.
How common is it to use spoil that way in contrast with the word ruin?
Can this be said in American English?
word-difference
add a comment |
My question is,
Can you spoil a moment? for example, let's say I bring home a gift for my girlfriend and she's very excited to know what's in the box, after I open up the box and show her what it is she responds to me I didn't like it. Can we say that she spoiled the moment? or should I say that she ruined the moment saying that?
This question comes from a doubt I had while watching a TV series episode where two people are making love to each other when one of them says something which one replied "Shush, you're spoiling it" which made me wonder whether spoil can also be used as ruin in that case.
How common is it to use spoil that way in contrast with the word ruin?
Can this be said in American English?
word-difference
add a comment |
My question is,
Can you spoil a moment? for example, let's say I bring home a gift for my girlfriend and she's very excited to know what's in the box, after I open up the box and show her what it is she responds to me I didn't like it. Can we say that she spoiled the moment? or should I say that she ruined the moment saying that?
This question comes from a doubt I had while watching a TV series episode where two people are making love to each other when one of them says something which one replied "Shush, you're spoiling it" which made me wonder whether spoil can also be used as ruin in that case.
How common is it to use spoil that way in contrast with the word ruin?
Can this be said in American English?
word-difference
My question is,
Can you spoil a moment? for example, let's say I bring home a gift for my girlfriend and she's very excited to know what's in the box, after I open up the box and show her what it is she responds to me I didn't like it. Can we say that she spoiled the moment? or should I say that she ruined the moment saying that?
This question comes from a doubt I had while watching a TV series episode where two people are making love to each other when one of them says something which one replied "Shush, you're spoiling it" which made me wonder whether spoil can also be used as ruin in that case.
How common is it to use spoil that way in contrast with the word ruin?
Can this be said in American English?
word-difference
word-difference
edited 1 hour ago
Jasper
19.1k43771
19.1k43771
asked 1 hour ago
KyleKyle
1,090115
1,090115
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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You can spoil or ruin a moment. Both very common; ruin is possibly stronger than spoil. Neither is 'better'. In American English the simple past & past participle is 'spoiled'; in British English it is 'spoilt'.
The Nets Spoil Another “Heisman Moment” for James Harden
American sports site
Canadiens goalie Carey Price spoiled the moment (Tampa Bay Times (Florida, USA)
How about American English? I live in the US.
– Kyle
1 hour ago
Edited. See above.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
I meant to ask whether "spoiling a moment" can also be used as an American expression, since I've never heard it before living in the US.
– Kyle
1 hour ago
More edits above.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
You can spoil or ruin a moment. Both very common; ruin is possibly stronger than spoil. Neither is 'better'. In American English the simple past & past participle is 'spoiled'; in British English it is 'spoilt'.
The Nets Spoil Another “Heisman Moment” for James Harden
American sports site
Canadiens goalie Carey Price spoiled the moment (Tampa Bay Times (Florida, USA)
How about American English? I live in the US.
– Kyle
1 hour ago
Edited. See above.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
I meant to ask whether "spoiling a moment" can also be used as an American expression, since I've never heard it before living in the US.
– Kyle
1 hour ago
More edits above.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
add a comment |
You can spoil or ruin a moment. Both very common; ruin is possibly stronger than spoil. Neither is 'better'. In American English the simple past & past participle is 'spoiled'; in British English it is 'spoilt'.
The Nets Spoil Another “Heisman Moment” for James Harden
American sports site
Canadiens goalie Carey Price spoiled the moment (Tampa Bay Times (Florida, USA)
How about American English? I live in the US.
– Kyle
1 hour ago
Edited. See above.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
I meant to ask whether "spoiling a moment" can also be used as an American expression, since I've never heard it before living in the US.
– Kyle
1 hour ago
More edits above.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
add a comment |
You can spoil or ruin a moment. Both very common; ruin is possibly stronger than spoil. Neither is 'better'. In American English the simple past & past participle is 'spoiled'; in British English it is 'spoilt'.
The Nets Spoil Another “Heisman Moment” for James Harden
American sports site
Canadiens goalie Carey Price spoiled the moment (Tampa Bay Times (Florida, USA)
You can spoil or ruin a moment. Both very common; ruin is possibly stronger than spoil. Neither is 'better'. In American English the simple past & past participle is 'spoiled'; in British English it is 'spoilt'.
The Nets Spoil Another “Heisman Moment” for James Harden
American sports site
Canadiens goalie Carey Price spoiled the moment (Tampa Bay Times (Florida, USA)
edited 1 hour ago
answered 1 hour ago
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
17.1k11939
17.1k11939
How about American English? I live in the US.
– Kyle
1 hour ago
Edited. See above.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
I meant to ask whether "spoiling a moment" can also be used as an American expression, since I've never heard it before living in the US.
– Kyle
1 hour ago
More edits above.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
add a comment |
How about American English? I live in the US.
– Kyle
1 hour ago
Edited. See above.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
I meant to ask whether "spoiling a moment" can also be used as an American expression, since I've never heard it before living in the US.
– Kyle
1 hour ago
More edits above.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
How about American English? I live in the US.
– Kyle
1 hour ago
How about American English? I live in the US.
– Kyle
1 hour ago
Edited. See above.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
Edited. See above.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
I meant to ask whether "spoiling a moment" can also be used as an American expression, since I've never heard it before living in the US.
– Kyle
1 hour ago
I meant to ask whether "spoiling a moment" can also be used as an American expression, since I've never heard it before living in the US.
– Kyle
1 hour ago
More edits above.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
More edits above.
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
add a comment |
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