“Spoil” vs “Ruin”

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“Spoil” vs “Ruin”














1















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







share|improve this question




























    1















    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







    share|improve this question


























      1












      1








      1








      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







      share|improve this question
















      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






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited 1 hour ago









      Jasper

      19.1k43771




      19.1k43771










      asked 1 hour ago









      KyleKyle

      1,090115




      1,090115




















          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          3














          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)







          share|improve this answer

























          • 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










          Your Answer








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          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes








          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes









          3














          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)







          share|improve this answer

























          • 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















          3














          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)







          share|improve this answer

























          • 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













          3












          3








          3







          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)







          share|improve this answer















          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)








          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          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

















          • 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

















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