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

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

The engagement had been a veritable nine days’ wonder.

From An Unknown Lover by Vaizey, George de Horne, Mrs.

It was a nine days' wonder in the neighbourhood, and the oddities of Hawthorn were held to be dangerous by the squires, while farmers cursed him for his liberality.

From The Life of Thomas Wanless, Peasant by Wilson, Alexander Johnstone

On "the street" it was a nine days' wonder how so colossal a scheme could be foisted upon them and carried so near a successful culmination, and then, as usual, it was forgotten.

From Rockhaven by Munn, Charles Clark

The mysterious end of the mysterious stranger had been very much of a nine days’ wonder.

From The Heath Hover Mystery by Mitford, Bertram