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]

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Example Sentences

Briefly, Bailey Zappe, one of his backups, stirred up optimism before fizzling out.

From The Wall Street Journal

Like their manager, the club's supporters will hope for action in the forthcoming transfer window to prevent a positive start to the season from fizzling out.

From BBC

I see the light of one of Ama’s Adinkra symbols, but it quickly fizzles out when she trips on one of the vines.

From Literature

The final act avoids sports-movie clichés, which is another way of saying that things simply fizzle out unsatisfyingly.

From The Wall Street Journal

Such instincts to keep young people away from the criminal justice system are deep-rooted in policing - perhaps in the hope antisocial behaviour fizzles out.

From BBC

Related Words

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