flash in the pan
noun phrase
1
: a sudden spasmodic effort that accomplishes nothing
2
: one that appears promising but turns out to be disappointing or worthless
… his third-place finish … established him as something more than a flash in the pan.—
John Garrity
John GarrityExamples of flash in the pan in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Or will Sora 2 just be a flash in the pan that fails to weaken Meta’s social media supremacy?
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
Her senior year was spent navigating classes while plotting her next career move, determined to become more than just another flash in the pan viral star.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2025
Like many big-name free-agent signings, that breakout season could prove to be a flash in the pan, but so far, Williams has looked the part.
—Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Most bands’ B-sides were random live tracks, extraneous remixes, or goofing off in the studio — and Oasis did engage in a bit of that — but Oasis also famously burned off a number of instant classics as B-sides as if to prove this band was definitely no flash in the pan.
—Jesse Adams, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
Asylum Cemented Disturbed’s Staying Power Asylum was another feather in Disturbed’s cap and proof the group was not a flash in the pan, as some metal-leaning acts from that era turned out to be.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
And yet, this is no flash in the pan.
—Nick Hendry, Robb Report, 6 Sep. 2025
Whether the improved results were a flash in the pan or are sustainable remains to be seen.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
Slate's partnership with SK On to deliver batteries and its reservation number that's north of 100,000 gives them some additional assurance that Slate is more than a flash in the pan.
—Roberto Baldwin, ArsTechnica, 2 Sep. 2025
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Paulina Likos, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
Her senior year was spent navigating classes while plotting her next career move, determined to become more than just another flash in the pan viral star.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2025
Like many big-name free-agent signings, that breakout season could prove to be a flash in the pan, but so far, Williams has looked the part.
—Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Most bands’ B-sides were random live tracks, extraneous remixes, or goofing off in the studio — and Oasis did engage in a bit of that — but Oasis also famously burned off a number of instant classics as B-sides as if to prove this band was definitely no flash in the pan.
—Jesse Adams, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
Asylum Cemented Disturbed’s Staying Power Asylum was another feather in Disturbed’s cap and proof the group was not a flash in the pan, as some metal-leaning acts from that era turned out to be.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
And yet, this is no flash in the pan.
—Nick Hendry, Robb Report, 6 Sep. 2025
Whether the improved results were a flash in the pan or are sustainable remains to be seen.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
Slate's partnership with SK On to deliver batteries and its reservation number that's north of 100,000 gives them some additional assurance that Slate is more than a flash in the pan.
—Roberto Baldwin, ArsTechnica, 2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flash in the pan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flash%20in%20the%20pan. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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