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
Examples of flash in the pan in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For governments, as well as businesses and households, the hope is that the new dynamism doesn’t prove to be a flash in the pan.
—
Eva Roytburg, Fortune Europe, 10 June 2024
The generation weaned on the Uptown and Bad Boy classics navigated such strife with belittling humor, treating Cassie like a musical flash in the pan with an inexplicable hold on the more powerful men around her.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2024
For Roberts, the rest of 2024 is all about making sure this moment isn’t just a flash in the pan.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Might Trump prove to be a flash in the pan who disappears like the Cheshire cat without even a smile in Alice in Wonderland?
—Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 8 Mar. 2024
But for those working in the Irish film and TV sector, these recent achievements — however stellar — aren’t just a brief flash in the pan moment, but rather the culmination of a movement that’s been ascending for some time.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 4 Mar. 2024
But what they aren’t known for is their impact on long term brand engagement, their ability to be more than a flash in the pan memory past Sunday Night, or (most recently) their deep alignment with the emotions and value systems in the Traylor SwiftCeVerse.
—Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
Still, there was understandable skepticism about whether the trial would be a flash in the pan that led to companies slowly ushering their staffers back into a five-day week once the pageantry ended.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 22 Feb. 2024
But the news does show that the game may be more than just a flash in the pan viral sensation as sales continue to grow.
—Andrew Webster, The Verge, 31 Jan. 2024
Eva Roytburg, Fortune Europe, 10 June 2024
The generation weaned on the Uptown and Bad Boy classics navigated such strife with belittling humor, treating Cassie like a musical flash in the pan with an inexplicable hold on the more powerful men around her.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2024
For Roberts, the rest of 2024 is all about making sure this moment isn’t just a flash in the pan.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Might Trump prove to be a flash in the pan who disappears like the Cheshire cat without even a smile in Alice in Wonderland?
—Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 8 Mar. 2024
But for those working in the Irish film and TV sector, these recent achievements — however stellar — aren’t just a brief flash in the pan moment, but rather the culmination of a movement that’s been ascending for some time.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 4 Mar. 2024
But what they aren’t known for is their impact on long term brand engagement, their ability to be more than a flash in the pan memory past Sunday Night, or (most recently) their deep alignment with the emotions and value systems in the Traylor SwiftCeVerse.
—Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
Still, there was understandable skepticism about whether the trial would be a flash in the pan that led to companies slowly ushering their staffers back into a five-day week once the pageantry ended.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 22 Feb. 2024
But the news does show that the game may be more than just a flash in the pan viral sensation as sales continue to grow.
—Andrew Webster, The Verge, 31 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flash in the pan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Flash in the pan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flash%20in%20the%20pan. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.
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