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Flash in the pan   /flæʃ ɪn ðə pæn/   Listen
noun
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.
2.
A sudden and brilliant burst, as of wit or genius; a momentary brightness or show. "The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind." "No striking sentiment, no flash of fancy."
3.
The time during which a flash is visible; an instant; a very brief period; as, I'll be back in a flash. "The Persians and Macedonians had it for a flash."
4.
A preparation of capsicum, burnt sugar, etc., for coloring and giving a fictitious strength to liquors.
5.
A lamp for providing intense momentary light to take a photograph; as, to take a picture without a flash.
Synonyms: flashbulb, photoflash, flash lamp, flashgun.
6.
Same as flashlight. (informal)
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.
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.
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.


Pan  n.  
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."
2.
(Manuf.) A closed vessel for boiling or evaporating. See Vacuum pan, under Vacuum.
3.
The part of a flintlock which holds the priming.
4.
The skull, considered as a vessel containing the brain; the upper part of the head; the brainpan; the cranium.
5.
(Carp.) A recess, or bed, for the leaf of a hinge.
6.
The hard stratum of earth that lies below the soil. See Hard pan, under Hard.
7.
A natural basin, containing salt or fresh water, or mud.
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.


verb
Flash  v. i.  (past & past part. flashed; pres. part. flashing)  
1.
To burst or break forth with a sudden and transient flood of flame and light; as, the lighting flashes vividly; the powder flashed.
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. "Names which have flashed and thundered as the watch words of unnumbered struggles." "The object is made to flash upon the eye of the mind." "A thought flashed through me, which I clothed in act."
3.
To burst forth like a sudden flame; to break out violently; to rush hastily. "Every hour He flashes into one gross crime or other."
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.
Synonyms: Flash, Glitter, Gleam, Glisten, Glister. 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.





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Flash in the pan" Quotes from Famous Books



... never do," said Robert, eyeing the drip of the trembling old tear pitilessly. "Your health, Mr. Hackbut. You've robbed me of my sweetheart. Never mind. Life's but the pop of a gun. Some of us flash in the pan, and they're the only ones that do no mischief. You're not one of them, sir; so you must drink, and let me see ...
— The Shaving of Shagpat • George Meredith
... Master flash in the pan, and wide of the mark! full of reasons, yet devoid of reason!—Everything was ready yesterday for Glaeser (the copyist). As for you, I shall expect you in Hetzendorf to dinner at half-past two o'clock. If you come later, dinner ...
— Beethoven's Letters 1790-1826 Vol. 2 • Lady Wallace
... in completing the book under thirty days or thereabouts. The best of powder is apt to sustain injury by lying so long 'in the load.' We sincerely hope the gentleman took the precaution to examine his priming before attempting the rash act. A flash in the pan—and in such a case—were a thing to be lamented. Indeed there would be no answering for the consequences. We might even have a second series of the ...
— International Miscellany of Literature, Art and Science, Vol. 1, - No. 3, Oct. 1, 1850 • Various
... all right, Jack. It is not a flash in the pan. She is as steady as a rock." He then addressed her rapidly and business-like, but with deference. "You will stand by the helm on this side, and the moment I run forward, you will take the helm and hold ...
— Love Me Little, Love Me Long • Charles Reade
... first issue of Astounding Stories last December, I was impressed by its array of splendid stories and famous authors. I thought, then, that perhaps that first number was just a flash in the pan, and that succeeding issues would sink to the level of other Science Fiction magazines. Happily, I was wrong. Astounding Stories has more than fulfilled the promise of its initial issue. The stories are undoubtedly the finest ...
— Astounding Stories of Super-Science, October, 1930 • Various
... Richborough. All four of the chieftains beneath whose sway the county was divided (Cingetorix, Canilius, Taximagulus, and Segonax) rose with one accord at his summons. The attack, however, proved a mere flash in the pan. Even before it was delivered, the garrison sallied out vigorously, captured one of the British leaders, Lugotorix, slaughtered the assailants wholesale, and crushed the whole movement without the loss of a man. This final defeat of his last hopes broke even Caswallon's ...
— Early Britain--Roman Britain • Edward Conybeare


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