Jump To:

• nine days' wonder
  nine days' wonder

  noun

  an event or thing that arouses considerable but short-lived interest or excitement.
• nine-days wonder
  nine-days wonder

  noun

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

nine days' wonder

American  

noun

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

---

nine-days wonder British  

noun

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

---

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.”

---

Etymology

Origin of nine days' wonder

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

Let their old host and hostess enjoy a nine days' wonder.

From Trevethlan (Vol 3 of 3) A Cornish Story. by Watson, William Davy

His mysterious disappearance had been a nine days’ wonder some ten years ago.

From The Wolves of God And Other Fey Stories by Blackwood, Algernon

—Did any particular circumstance give rise to the saying, "A nine days' wonder?"

From Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, Number 98, September 13, 1851 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by Various

The nine days' wonder of her appearance had scarcely yet passed away when Mr. and Mrs. Wildair and Mr. Randall left B——, en route for the little "one-horse" town of Burnfield.

From The Actress' Daughter A Novel by Fleming, May Agnes

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

From The Heath Hover Mystery by Mitford, Bertram