The phrase “a flash in the pan” refers to something that initially shows great promise or success but then quickly fails or fades away. It describes a brief moment of excitement, attention, or achievement that lacks lasting substance. The expression originates from old firearms, where a “pan” held the gunpowder, and if the powder ignited but the gun didn’t fire, it was considered a “flash in the pan”—a brief, momentary spark that went nowhere. In Indonesian, a similar expression would be “hanya sekejap” or “sesuatu yang tidak bertahan lama”, which conveys the idea of something being short-lived or temporary.
Synonyms:
- Short-lived success
- Momentary excitement
- A one-hit wonder
- A fleeting moment
- A brief spark
- A passing trend
- An instant success
- A temporary phenomenon
- A temporary high
- A false start
Example Sentences:
- His first book was a huge success, but his later works were just a flash in the pan.
- The startup seemed promising at first, but it turned out to be a flash in the pan.
- The band had one hit song and then disappeared—a real flash in the pan.
- The new fashion trend was exciting, but it turned out to be just a flash in the pan.
- Her rise to fame was fast but brief, making her career a flash in the pan.
- The company’s sudden popularity was just a flash in the pan, and it soon faded.
- That investment seemed like a great idea at first, but now it’s just another flash in the pan.
- His interest in learning guitar was a flash in the pan, lasting only a few weeks.
- The hype around the new tech gadget was massive, but it quickly turned out to be a flash in the pan.
- His big performance was exciting, but it was a flash in the pan, with no follow-up successes.
Related Words:
- Ephemeral
- Transient
- Momentary
- Fickle
- Short-lived
- Temporary
- Passing
- Fleeting
- Unstable
- Illusory
Related Phrasal Verbs:
- Burn out (lose energy or interest quickly)
- Fade away (gradually disappear or lose importance)
- Blow over (pass without lasting impact)
- Run out of steam (lose momentum)
- Burn brightly, burn briefly (shine brightly but only for a short time)
- Come and go (appear briefly and then disappear)
- Fizzle out (gradually fail or lose strength)
- Die down (decrease in intensity or enthusiasm)
- Fleeting moment (something that lasts only a short time)
- Wear off (lose effectiveness or interest over time)
Idiomatic Expressions:
- A flash in the pan (something that shows initial promise but fades quickly)
- Lightning in a bottle (something rare and difficult to maintain)
- All hat and no cattle (showing a lot of promise or excitement with little substance)
- It’s just a blip on the radar (something that is only briefly noticeable)
- A shooting star (something that shines brightly for a short time but disappears)
- Burn the candle at both ends (do something energetically but briefly, leading to exhaustion)
- Up in smoke (end in failure or disappointment after initial promise)
- A flash of brilliance (a momentary display of talent or success that doesn’t last)
- What goes up must come down (success or popularity that’s fleeting)
- In the blink of an eye (something happening very quickly and disappearing just as fast)
The expression “a flash in the pan” is commonly used to describe people, ideas, or events that seem exciting or promising at first but ultimately lack the staying power or depth to last long-term. It’s a reminder that not everything that glitters is gold!