flash in the pan
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Flash \Flash\ (fl[a^]sh), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Flashed}
(fl[a^]sht); p. pr. & vb. n. {Flashing}.] [Cf. OE. flaskien,
vlaskien to pour, sprinkle, dial. Sw. flasa to blaze, E.
flush, flare.]
1. To burst or break forth with a sudden and transient flood
of flame and light; as, the lighting flashes vividly; the
powder flashed.
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2. To break forth, as a sudden flood of light; to burst
instantly and brightly on the sight; to show a momentary
brilliancy; to come or pass like a flash.
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Names which have flashed and thundered as the watch
words of unnumbered struggles. --Talfourd.
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The object is made to flash upon the eye of the
mind. --M. Arnold.
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A thought flashed through me, which I clothed in
act. --Tennyson.
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3. To burst forth like a sudden flame; to break out
violently; to rush hastily.
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Every hour
He flashes into one gross crime or other. --Shak.
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{flash in the pan}, a failure or a poor performance,
especially after a normal or auspicious start; also, a
person whose initial performance appears augur success but
who fails to achieve anything notable. From 4th {pan}, n.,
sense 3 -- part of a flintlock. Occasionally, the powder
in the pan of a flintlock would flash without conveying
the fire to the charge, and the ball would fail to be
discharged. Thus, a good or even spectacular beginning
that eventually achieves little came to be called a flash
in the pan.
{To flash in the pan}, to fail of success, especially after a
normal or auspicious start. [Colloq.] See under {Flash}, a
burst of light. --Bartlett.
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Syn: {Flash}, {Glitter}, {Gleam}, {Glisten}, {Glister}.
Usage: Flash differs from glitter and gleam, denoting a flood
or wide extent of light. The latter words may express
the issuing of light from a small object, or from a
pencil of rays. Flash differs from other words, also,
in denoting suddenness of appearance and
disappearance. Flashing differs from exploding or
disploding in not being accompanied with a loud
report. To glisten, or glister, is to shine with a
soft and fitful luster, as eyes suffused with tears,
or flowers wet with dew.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Flash \Flash\, n.; pl. {Flashes}.
1. A sudden burst of light; a flood of light instantaneously
appearing and disappearing; a momentary blaze; as, a flash
of lightning.
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2. A sudden and brilliant burst, as of wit or genius; a
momentary brightness or show.
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The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind. --Shak.
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No striking sentiment, no flash of fancy. --Wirt.
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3. The time during which a flash is visible; an instant; a
very brief period; as, I'll be back in a flash.
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The Persians and Macedonians had it for a flash.
--Bacon.
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4. A preparation of capsicum, burnt sugar, etc., for coloring
and giving a fictitious strength to liquors.
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5. A lamp for providing intense momentary light to take a
photograph; as, to take a picture without a flash.
Syn: flashbulb, photoflash, flash lamp, flashgun.
[WordNet 1.5]
6. Same as {flashlight}. [informal]
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7. (Journalism) A short news item providing recently received
and usually preliminary information about an event that is
considered important enough to interrupt normal
broadcasting or other news delivery services; also called
a {news flash} or {bulletin}.
[PJC]
{Flash light}, or {Flashing light}, a kind of light shown by
lighthouses, produced by the revolution of reflectors, so
as to show a flash of light every few seconds, alternating
with periods of dimness. --Knight.
{Flash in the pan}, the flashing of the priming in the pan of
a flintlock musket without discharging the piece; hence,
sudden, spasmodic effort that accomplishes nothing.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Pan \Pan\, n. [OE. panne, AS. panne; cf. D. pan, G. pfanne, OHG.
pfanna, Icel., Sw., LL., & Ir. panna, of uncertain origin;
cf. L. patina, E. paten.]
1. A shallow, open dish or vessel, usually of metal, employed
for many domestic uses, as for setting milk for cream, for
frying or baking food, etc.; also employed for various
uses in manufacturing. "A bowl or a pan." --Chaucer.
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2. (Manuf.) A closed vessel for boiling or evaporating. See
{Vacuum pan}, under {Vacuum}.
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3. The part of a flintlock which holds the priming.
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4. The skull, considered as a vessel containing the brain;
the upper part of the head; the brainpan; the cranium.
--Chaucer.
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5. (Carp.) A recess, or bed, for the leaf of a hinge.
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6. The hard stratum of earth that lies below the soil. See
{Hard pan}, under {Hard}.
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7. A natural basin, containing salt or fresh water, or mud.
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{Flash in the pan}. See under {Flash}.
{To savor of the pan}, to suggest the process of cooking or
burning; in a theological sense, to be heretical.
--Ridley. Southey.
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from
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
73 Moby Thesaurus words for "flash in the pan":
abortion, abortive attempt, also-ran, bankrupt, best seller,
big hit, blank cartridge, bogy, brilliant success, bubble, bugaboo,
bugbear, castrato, cipher, cry of wolf, dud, dummy, ephemera,
ephemeral, ephemerid, ephemerides, ephemeris, eunuch, fad, failure,
false alarm, flop, gas, gasser, gelding, great success, hit,
hollow man, impotent, incompetent, invalid, jackstraw, killing,
lay figure, loser, man of straw, mayfly, merry chase,
meteoric success, miscarriage, miscarrying, misfire,
momentary success, nebbish, nobody, nonentity, nothing, nullity,
puppet, pushover, resounding triumph, riot, roaring success,
sensation, smash, smash hit, smoke, snows of yesteryear,
thing of naught, trifle, triumph, vain attempt, washout, weakling,
wet squib, wild-goose chase, wow, zero
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