nine days' wonder

American  

noun

1. an event or thing that arouses considerable but short-lived interest or excitement.

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nine-days wonder British  

noun

1. something that arouses great interest, but only for a short period

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nine days' wonder Cultural  

1. Someone or something that is famous and celebrated for only a short time: “Last year the art critics praised Jonas as if he were a master, but he turned out to be a nine days' wonder.”

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Etymology

Origin of nine days' wonder

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

The affair had exceeded the time of the proverbial "nine days' wonder," and it was only in the City or to those deeply interested that the good news became really known.

From Englefield Grange or Mary Armstrong's Troubles by Paull, H. B.

Was it not enough to make the world stare? to furnish something to the gaping crowd, even though it were but a nine days' wonder?

From The Story of the Atlantic Telegraph by Field, Henry M. (Henry Martyn)

It was a nine days' wonder, and then, as happens with these things at Paris, no more was said about it.

From Artist and Model (The Divorced Princess) by Pont-Jest, Ren? de

As they had come, so they had gone, and the matter remained a nine days' wonder.

From The Storm Centre by Murfree, Mary Noailles

We do not, of course, allude to magnificent entertainments, such as are celebrated in the newspapers, and become a nine days' wonder; and are cited as costing, not hundreds, but thousands of dollars.

From The Ladies' Guide to True Politeness and Perfect Manners or, Miss Leslie's Behaviour Book by Leslie, Eliza