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

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 2, 2025

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.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 19, 2025

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

Leaders in the NBC newsroom, convinced that election year audiences deserved to hear a perspective from conservatives like Ms. McDaniel, believed the hubbub would fizzle out.

From New York Times • Mar. 26, 2024

They fly smoky circles around my head and then fizzle out.

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston

Related Words

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