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• nine days' wonder
  nine days' wonder

  noun

  an event or thing that arouses considerable but short-lived interest or excitement.
• nine-days wonder
  nine-days wonder

  noun

  something that arouses great interest, but only for a short period

nine days' wonder

American  

noun

1. an event or thing that arouses considerable but short-lived interest or excitement.

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nine-days wonder British  

noun

1. something that arouses great interest, but only for a short period

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nine days' wonder Cultural  

1. Someone or something that is famous and celebrated for only a short time: “Last year the art critics praised Jonas as if he were a master, but he turned out to be a nine days' wonder.”

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Etymology

Origin of nine days' wonder

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

The nine days' wonder of her appearance had scarcely yet passed away when Mr. and Mrs. Wildair and Mr. Randall left B——, en route for the little "one-horse" town of Burnfield.

From The Actress' Daughter A Novel by Fleming, May Agnes

Let their old host and hostess enjoy a nine days' wonder.

From Trevethlan (Vol 3 of 3) A Cornish Story. by Watson, William Davy

The duel between Sir Maxwell Danby and Leslie Travers was a nine days' wonder.

From Her Season in Bath A Story of Bygone Days by Marshall, Emma

Her advent in Gila had been a nine days' wonder to the Gilaites; now, her presence there had come to be regarded as a matter of course.

From The Angel of the Gila: A Tale of Arizona by Marsland, Cora

The ice carnival and John's escape were a nine days' wonder.

From Diana Tempest, Volume III (of 3) by Cholmondeley, Mary