How do you say “A flash in the pan” in French?
The closest natural French equivalent is un feu de paille, which literally means “a straw fire”. English speakers use a flash in the pan to mean a brief success that is not repeated or sustained. A close French match for something impressive that soon fades. It also works for brief enthusiasm or anger. Register: informal. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural French
un feu de paille
/œ̃ fø də pɑj/
- Literal meaning
- “a straw fire”
- Register
- informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
95 out of 100
What a native French speaker would actually say
“Ce n’était qu’un feu de paille” suggests that the promising start did not last. The straw-fire image gives a clear sense of quick disappearance.
For a successful person, describe “son succès” as a feu de paille. Calling the success short-lived is more natural than turning the person into the fire.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone5 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity3 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
In context
English
Their first hit was a flash in the pan; the next album barely sold.
French
Leur premier tube n'a été qu'un feu de paille ; l'album suivant s'est à peine vendu.
English
Her second gold medal proved she wasn't a flash in the pan.
French
Sa deuxième médaille d'or a prouvé que son succès n'était pas un feu de paille.
Related expressions
Last updated 2026-11-04