damp squib

noun

British

: something that is disappointing because it is not as exciting or effective as expected

The company's stock turned out to be something of a damp squib.

Examples of damp squib in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Similarly, Nike’s Total 90 collection last year, an unimaginative reimagining of the brand’s most popular range in the early-to-mid 2000s, was a damp squib, and shirts continue to sit on clearance shelves at retailers at steep discounts. — Elias Burke, New York Times, 13 July 2026

An on-screen message told commentators and viewers this would be the case, but it was displayed in error, and what had been an entertaining race ended as something of a damp squib. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 6 July 2026

While the overall business had a banner year, that damp squib of an announcement seemed to sum up the entire gaming misadventure. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 28 Dec. 2025

The contrast between this damp squib of an evening and their respective first jobs back in 2014 couldn’t be more stark. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2024

Rhymes for damp squib

• sahib
• bib
• bibb
• crib
• gib
• glib
• jib
• lib
• mib
• nib
• rib
• sib