fizzle out

Idioms  

1. Fail, end weakly, especially after a hopeful beginning. For example, The enthusiasm for reform has fizzled out in this state. The word fizzle dates from the early 1500s and meant “to break wind without making noise.” Later it was applied to hissing noises, such as those made by wet fireworks, and then to any endeavor that ends in disappointment. [Colloquial; mid-1800s]

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fizzle out

While several industry experts told MarketWatch that controversies over advertisements tend to fizzle out in the medium term, there’s always a chance that damage to its brand could linger.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026

Currency interventions that aren’t backed by a shift in central bank policy or fiscal policy historically buy weeks but can fizzle out after that.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

"When that happens, triplets easily fizzle out before they ever meet. Molecules must be close enough for energy to transfer but separated enough to prevent quenching of excitons."

From Science Daily ● Jun. 26, 2026

Into the weekend, some weather fronts may try and push in from the west but are likely to be fairly weak as they bump into high pressure and then fizzle out.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2025

Slowly the bits of anger that were still floating around inside me fizzle out like flat soda.

From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan

Related Words

• deteriorate
• disappear
• end
• expire
• fail
• fall
• pass
• stop
• vanish