flash in the pan; fleeting moment
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
a flash in the pan; a fleeting moment of glory; something rare that appears briefly and then vanishes
Originally from Buddhist texts referring to the udumbara flower (优昙钵华), which was said to bloom only once every 3000 years. Used to describe short-lived fame, temporary success, or phenomena that disappear quickly.
Zhè这
wèi位
wǎng网
luò络
hóng红
rén人
de的
rè热
dù度
zhǐ只
shì是
tán昙
huā花
yī一
xiàn现
。
This internet celebrity's popularity was just a flash in the pan.
Tā他
de的
chéng成
gōng功
bìng并
fēi非
tán昙
huā花
yī一
xiàn现
，
ér而
shì是
duō多
nián年
jī积
lěi累
de的
jié结
guǒ果
。
His success was not fleeting but the result of years of accumulation.
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Nà那
gè个
zhèng政
dǎng党
zài在
xuǎn选
jǔ举
zhōng中
de的
shèng胜
lì利
bù不
guò过
shì是
tán昙
huā花
yī一
xiàn现
。
That party's victory in the election was nothing but a flash in the pan.