flash in the pan
a thing or person whose sudden but brief success is not repeated or repeatable
This phrase developed from the priming of a firearm - the flash being from an explosion of gunpowder within the lock.
1998 - New Scientist - But Java may turn out to be flash in the pan : books on human computer interaction struggle to stay abreast of rapid developments in computing.
RELATED IDIOMS :
quick as a flash
(especially of a person's response or reaction) happening or made very quickly
flash in the pan :
flash in the pan To HOME PAGE
Idioms Index – Previous Page