flash in the pan. a thing or person whose suddenbut brief success is not repeated or repeatable. This phrasedeveloped from the priming of a firearm, the flash beingfrom an explosion of gunpowder within the lock..
Also, what does a flash in a pan mean?
The phrase did have a literal meaning,that is, it derives from a real flash in a real pan,but not a prospector's pan. Flintlock muskets used to havesmall pans to hold charges of gunpowder. An attempt to firethe musket in which the gunpowder flared up without a bullet beingfired was a 'flash in the pan'.
Secondly, where did the term flash in the pan come from? The phrase did have a literal meaning,that is, it derives from a real flash in a real pan,but not a prospector's pan. Flintlock muskets used to havesmall pans to hold charges of gunpowder. An attempt to firethe musket in which the gunpowder flared up without a bullet beingfired was a 'flash in the pan'.
Additionally, where does pig in a poke come from?
The origin of the expression 'pig in a poke'comes from the 1500s, when a “poke” was asack, and merchants would sell piglets in pokes, often sightunseen.
What does chalk and cheese mean?
phrase. If you say that two people or things are likechalk and cheese, you are emphasizing that they arecompletely different from each other. [British, emphasis] The twoplaces, he insists, are as different as chalk andcheese.
Related Question Answers
Is it bad to wear your heart on your sleeve?
If you say you "wear your heart on your sleeve",it is often misconstrued as meaning you let your emotionsrun out of control. In truth, it means to openly show how you'refeeling, to be transparent, to be true to yourself.Do things on the spur of the moment?
occurring or done without advance preparation ordeliberation; extemporaneous; unplanned: aspur-of-the-moment decision.What does wearing your heart on your sleeve mean?
wear one's heart on one's sleeve.phrase. If you wear your heart on your sleeve, you openlyshow your feelings or emotions rather than keeping themhidden.What does an ace up your sleeve mean?
It is a common popular idiomatic expression, used alsoin business contexts: Ace up your sleeve: Meaning: asurprise or secret advantage, especially something tricky that iskept hidden until needed.What does the expression eat crow mean?
Eating crow is a colloquial idiom, used insome English-speaking countries, that means humiliation byadmitting having been proven wrong after taking a strong position.The crow is a carrion-eater that is presumably repulsive toeat in the same way that being proven wrong might beemotionally hard to swallow.Is pig in a blanket an idiom?
If you accuse someone of eating like a pig,sweating like a pig, or being as happy as a pig inmuck, then not only are you playing fast and loose with the normsof delicate conversation, but also you are neglecting thepig's finer qualities.What is buy a pig in a poke?
The English colloquialisms such as turn out to be apig in a poke or buy a pig in a poke mean thatsomething is sold or bought without the buyer knowing its truenature or value, especially when buying without inspectingthe item beforehand. 
