flash+in+the+pan
21flash in the pan — Etymology: from the firing of the priming in the pan of a flintlock musket without discharging the piece Date: 1706 1. a sudden spasmodic effort that accomplishes nothing 2. one that appears promising but turns out to be disappointing or… …
22To flash in the pan — Flash Flash (fl[a^]sh), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Flashed} (fl[a^]sht); p. pr. & vb. n. {Flashing}.] [Cf. OE. flaskien, vlaskien to pour, sprinkle, dial. Sw. flasa to blaze, E. flush, flare.] 1. To burst or break forth with a sudden and transient… …
23flash in the pan — a sudden but brief success that is unlikely to be repeated. [with allusion to the priming of a firearm, the flash arising from an explosion of gunpowder within the lock.] → flash …
24(a) flash in the pan — a flash in the pan spoken phrase someone or something that is popular or successful for a very short time only Last year’s 2.5 per cent growth was no flash in the pan. Thesaurus: something that is popular only for a short timesynonym Main entry:… …
25(a) flash in the pan — briefly successful or popular. At first, some of the major record labels thought rock ’n’ roll was just a flash in the pan. Usage notes: sometimes used in the form no flash in the pan successful or popular for more than a brief period: This trend …
26a flash in the pan — a person who does superior work at first I m looking for a steady worker, not a flash in the pan …
27a flash in the pan — spoken someone or something that is popular or successful for a very short time only Last year s 2.5 per cent growth was no flash in the pan …
28flash in the pan — Synonyms and related words: abortion, abortive attempt, also ran, bankrupt, best seller, big hit, blank cartridge, bogy, brilliant success, bubble, bugaboo, bugbear, castrato, cipher, cry of wolf, dud, dummy, ephemera, ephemeral, ephemerid,… …
29Flash in the pan — something which begins promisingly but has no lasting significance …
30flash in the pan — Australian Slang something which begins promisingly but has no lasting significance …
