Whiteisms
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Etymology Journal ยท A

A flash in the pan

Meaning

This refers to something that shows great promise or success initially but quickly fails or disappears. It is a one-hit wonder.

Cynical, observant

Used in a sentence

  • Everyone thought the new app would change the world, but it was just a flash in the pan.
  • His career in music turned out to be a flash in the pan.
  • Don't invest too much in that trend, it's probably just a flash in the pan.

The backstory

This comes from 17th-century flintlock muskets. Sometimes the gunpowder in the pan would ignite, causing a flash, but the main charge would fail to fire, resulting in no shot.

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