Why do we say "flash in the pan"? | | Why would "a flash in the pan" be disappointing? This idiom comes from a very literal meaning that time has forgotten. | |  | Bennett Kleinman |
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| |  | | C alling someone or something a "flash in the pan" is a lot like when parents say, "I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed." People use this idiom in reference to anything that initially shows great promise, only to fall flat in the end. For instance, it can be used to describe a band whose second album is a disappointment compared to its first, or an exciting business idea that fails to produce a quality product.
But before it developed an idiomatic meaning, "flash in the pan" had a literal usage that referred to the way old firearms operated — specifically the flintlock musket. This 16th-century gun featured a little pan that contained the gunpowder. But these guns were unreliable, and it was common for the weapon to fire without discharging any ammunition. In the case of such a misfire, the gunpowder would still ignite — and that was known as a flash in the pan.
It wasn't until the early 1800s that this phrase was used more figuratively. The Oxford English Dictionary points to an example from 1809, found in an English translation of a French novel titled Adventures of Gil Blas: "I was not remiss in composing a fine compliment..with which I meant to launch out on her part; but it was just so much flash in the pan." Concurrently, literal uses of the phrase became less common as archaic muskets were replaced with more modern firearms that lacked the gunpowder pan.
One of the most oft-repeated rumors about this phrase is that the "flash" is related to panning for gold during the gold rush of the mid-19th century. But the musket origin story is more likely to be true, given the much earlier usage of the phrase — though that's not to say it wasn't repeated among prospectors. |
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Emoji Decoded | |  | | Cricket | | | Meaning: Depicts a cricket, a jumping insect known for chirping sounds.
Evolution: As part of a 2018 emoji release that expanded the insects category, the Cricket 🦗 joined the Butterfly 🦋 and Lady Beetle 🐞(commonly known as "ladybug"). It might also be used to represent a grasshopper, as no emoji depicts that particular insect.
Usage: [Text about a quiet evening:] Just me and the 🦗🦗🦗 tonight |
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| | Cricket | | | Meaning: Depicts a cricket, a jumping insect known for chirping sounds.
Evolution: As part of a 2018 emoji release that expanded the insects category, the Cricket 🦗 joined the Butterfly 🦋 and Lady Beetle 🐞(commonly known as "ladybug"). It might also be used to represent a grasshopper, as no emoji depicts that particular insect.
Usage: [Text about a quiet evening:] Just me and the 🦗🦗🦗 tonight |
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Have you read? | |  | | Spare | | By Prince Harry | | Prince Harry, the younger brother to Prince William, the heir to the British throne, gives us a rare look into one of the most influential royal families in the world in "Spare." The self-proclaimed title comes from Harry's place in the order of succession. As he outlines his life from childhood, Prince Harry writes about the loss of his mother, Princess Diana, his time in Africa, love and dating, his military career, turbulent family relationships, and how he navigated it all under the watchful — and critical — public eye. | | | | Rachel Gresh, Word Smarts Contributor | | | | We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. |
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| | Spare | | By Prince Harry | | Prince Harry, the younger brother to Prince William, the heir to the British throne, gives us a rare look into one of the most influential royal families in the world in "Spare." The self-proclaimed title comes from Harry's place in the order of succession. As he outlines his life from childhood, Prince Harry writes about the loss of his mother, Princess Diana, his time in Africa, love and dating, his military career, turbulent family relationships, and how he navigated it all under the watchful — and critical — public eye. | | | | Rachel Gresh, Word Smarts Contributor | | | | We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. |
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