damp squib

noun

, British Informal.

1. something meant but failing to impress or succeed.

Word History and Origins

Origin of damp squib¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

The bipartisan infrastructure package working its way through congress is, at best, a damp squib from a climate standpoint.

From Time

For the most anticipated earnings event of the year to date, GameStop’s call with analysts on Tuesday night was something of a damp squib.

From Quartz

Such love must come to disaster; it is like a damp squib, it is never properly alight and fades out swiftly in noisy splutters.

From Project Gutenberg

It must be owned that they were decidedly daring, yet in the nature of damp-squib affairs, as it turned out.

From Project Gutenberg

Our artillery put salvoes at once upon those trenches; and the raid of that night proved a damp squib.

From Project Gutenberg

Deprived of the Sheikhs countenance the jehad proved a rather damp squib.

From Project Gutenberg

"No you don't," said the dragon in a spluttering voice, like a damp squib.

From Project Gutenberg