Flash in the pan

Flash in the pan
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. [1913 Webster]

2. A sudden and brilliant burst, as of wit or genius; a momentary brightness or show. [1913 Webster]

The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

No striking sentiment, no flash of fancy. --Wirt. [1913 Webster]

3. The time during which a flash is visible; an instant; a very brief period. [1913 Webster]

The Persians and Macedonians had it for a flash. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

4. A preparation of capsicum, burnt sugar, etc., for coloring and giving a fictitious strength to liquors. [1913 Webster]

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] [PJC]

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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • flash in the pan — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Flash and the Pan — was an Australian New Wave group (essentially an ongoing studio project) formed in the late 1970s by Harry Vanda and George Young, both former members of the Easybeats. George Young is also an older brother to Angus Young and Malcolm Young of… …   Wikipedia

  • Flash And The Pan — war eine australische Band, die im Kern auf The Easybeats zurückging. Die beiden hauptsächlichen Songschreiber der Easybeats, George Young und Harry Vanda, blieben nach dem Ende der Band 1969 zusammen, um weiter als Team zu arbeiten. Sie wurden… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Flash and the Pan — war eine australische Band, die im Kern auf The Easybeats zurückging. Die beiden hauptsächlichen Songschreiber der Easybeats, George Young und Harry Vanda, blieben nach dem Ende der Band 1969 zusammen, um weiter als Team zu arbeiten. Sie wurden… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Flash in the pan — 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • flash in the pan — If something is a flash in the pan, it is very noticeable but doesn t last long, like most singers, who are very successful for a while, then forgotten …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • flash in the pan — ► flash in the pan a sudden but brief success. [ORIGIN: with allusion to the priming of a firearm, the flash arising from an explosion of gunpowder within the lock.] Main Entry: ↑flash …   English terms dictionary

  • Flash and the Pan — est un groupe de musique australien fondé à la fin des années 1970. Il est connu entre autres pour la chanson Midnight Man sortie au milieu des années 1980. Portail de l’Australie …   Wikipédia en Français

  • flash in the pan — noun someone who enjoys transient success but then fails • Hypernyms: ↑failure, ↑loser, ↑nonstarter, ↑unsuccessful person * * * 1. : the firing of the priming in the pan of a flintlock musket without discharging the piece 2 …   Useful english dictionary

  • flash in the pan — {n. phr.}, {slang} A person or thing that starts out well but does not continue. * /The new quarterback was a flash in the pan./ * /Mary got 100 on the first test in arithmetic but it was just a flash in the pan because she failed in arithmetic./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

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