Flash In The Pan

Pronunciation: /flæʃ ɪn ðə pæn/

Definitions of flash in the pan

noun A short-lived success or phenomenon that is quickly forgotten or dismissed.

Example Sentences

A1 The new restaurant was just a flash in the pan and closed down after a few weeks.

A2 The singer's hit song was considered a flash in the pan as he never released another successful track.

B1 Many people thought the new technology was just a flash in the pan, but it ended up revolutionizing the industry.

B2 The company's initial success was dismissed as a flash in the pan by competitors, but they continued to grow and thrive.

C1 Some critics argue that the artist's early success was merely a flash in the pan, while others believe it was the start of a long and successful career.

C2 Despite being labeled a flash in the pan by some, the author's first novel went on to win multiple awards and become a bestseller.

preposition In this phrase, 'in' is a preposition that indicates the location or situation of the 'flash in the pan'.

Example Sentences

A1 The new restaurant was just a flash in the pan.

A2 The singer's popularity turned out to be just a flash in the pan.

B1 The company's success was not a flash in the pan, as they continued to grow steadily.

B2 The team's victory was not just a flash in the pan, they went on to win the championship.

C1 The artist's early success seemed like a flash in the pan, but they continued to produce great work.

C2 The author's first bestseller was thought to be a flash in the pan, but they went on to write many more successful books.

Examples of flash in the pan in a Sentence

formal The new restaurant was initially popular, but turned out to be just a flash in the pan.

informal That singer was a flash in the pan - everyone forgot about them after a month.

slang Don't worry about him, he's just a flash in the pan.

figurative His success in the stock market was like a flash in the pan - it didn't last long.

Grammatical Forms of flash in the pan

• past tense: flashed in the pan
• plural: flashes in the pan
• comparative: more fleeting in the pan
• superlative: most fleeting in the pan
• present tense: flashes in the pan
• future tense: will flash in the pan
• perfect tense: has flashed in the pan
• continuous tense: is flashing in the pan
• singular: a flash in the pan
• positive degree: flash in the pan
• infinitive: to flash in the pan
• gerund: flashing in the pan
• participle: flashed in the pan

Origin and Evolution of flash in the pan

First Known Use: 1707 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The phrase 'flash in the pan' originated from the literal meaning of a gun misfiring, where the gunpowder ignited in the pan but failed to fire the bullet. This led to a short-lived burst of light and noise without any lasting impact.

Evolution of the word: Over time, 'flash in the pan' evolved to describe something that shows initial promise or success but ultimately fails to deliver long-term results or significance.