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
Strong Fundamentals: Growth & Margins WRB isn’t just a flash in the pan.
—
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
As to whether a rise in international defense stocks will be a flash in the pan, all three analysts said that this demand would persist, perhaps even for the next 10 years.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2025
But whether this is a flash in the pan or a sign of things to come is, like so much in this country, up for debate.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 27 Feb. 2025
Whether the spike was a flash in the pan or a sign of things to come, time will tell.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025
Some economists have cautioned that the sudden demand for prompt engineers could be a flash in the pan, while other technologists have predicted that prompt engineering could soon evolve from a job title to a skill that is expected — or required — of desk workers.
—Morgan Smith, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2025
In other words, the upcoming announcement could tell us whether Scorpio’s recent raises are more than a short-term flash in the pan.
—Brett Owens, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Now Beck has a chance to prove the Hurricanes were not a flash in the pan.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2025
Now Milan need to show this is no flash in the pan.
—James Horncastle, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
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Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
As to whether a rise in international defense stocks will be a flash in the pan, all three analysts said that this demand would persist, perhaps even for the next 10 years.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2025
But whether this is a flash in the pan or a sign of things to come is, like so much in this country, up for debate.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 27 Feb. 2025
Whether the spike was a flash in the pan or a sign of things to come, time will tell.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025
Some economists have cautioned that the sudden demand for prompt engineers could be a flash in the pan, while other technologists have predicted that prompt engineering could soon evolve from a job title to a skill that is expected — or required — of desk workers.
—Morgan Smith, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2025
In other words, the upcoming announcement could tell us whether Scorpio’s recent raises are more than a short-term flash in the pan.
—Brett Owens, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Now Beck has a chance to prove the Hurricanes were not a flash in the pan.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2025
Now Milan need to show this is no flash in the pan.
—James Horncastle, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 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 22 Apr. 2025.
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