Flash in the Pan

What it means

A promising start that produces nothing and is never repeated.

Where it comes from

Flintlock muskets held priming powder in a small pan. Sometimes the pan flashed without setting off the main charge, leaving the shooter with a bright puff of smoke and no shot.

The puzzle it came from

Flash in the Pan was the answer to the Phrasicle of May 3, 2025. The clue read ____ in the ____, and the words came out of a grid where every neighbouring pair makes a two-word phrase.

Play today's Phrasicle Play the May 3, 2025 puzzle