burst someone's bubble

Verb

burst someone's bubble (third-person singular simple present bursts someone's bubble, present participle bursting someone's bubble, simple past and past participle burst someone's bubble)

1. (idiomatic, informal) To disillusion; to disabuse someone of a false notion or rationalization that has grown comfortable.
   • I hate to burst his bubble, but he is going to be disappointed if he tries that idea.
   • I remember vividly the time I overheard one gay woman ask her lover (a prominent lesbian activist) if they could go to the movies. The absolute "NO" answer burst the bubble that said that only heteros play these role games.1974 February 16, Satya, “A Human Game”, in Gay Community News, volume 1, number 34, page 4

   Synonyms:

   bust someone's bubble, pop someone's balloon, piss in someone's cereal, piss in someone's Cheerios, piss in someone's cornflakes, piss on someone's chips, piss on someone's bonfire, piss on someone's campfire, put a damper on, rain on someone's parade