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

See Examples For:

fizzle out

The two were often spotted at events together, but as Perry’s star rose and Perez’s blogging tactics were called out as toxic amid a shift away from tabloid culture, their friendship seemed to fizzle out.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

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

“How could all our work just fizzle out in one afternoon?”

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

Related Words

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