fizzle out

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

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

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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.

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While the storms are expected to fizzle out through the weekend, forecasts show that there’s the potential for another round of tropical weather next week, but it’s too early to tell what will materialize.

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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.

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He said people felt their voices were not being heard by local agencies and politicians, with meetings and engagement "fizzling out".

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Related Words

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