How do you say “A flash in the pan” in Spanish?
The closest natural Spanish equivalent is flor de un día, which literally means “flower of one day”. English speakers use a flash in the pan to mean a brief success that is not repeated or sustained. A close Spanish match for success that does not last. It can also describe a brief romance or other passing attraction. Register: neutral. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural Spanish
flor de un día
/floɾ ðe un ˈdia/
- Literal meaning
- “flower of one day”
- Register
- neutral
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
94 out of 100
What a native Spanish speaker would actually say
“Su éxito fue flor de un día” says the success quickly faded. The phrase does not mean the event literally lasted one day.
Use the success as the subject when that sounds clearer: “No fue flor de un día”. A second achievement can show that the first was no accident.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone4 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity2 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.
Spanish
Su primer éxito fue flor de un día; el siguiente disco apenas se vendió.
English
Her second gold medal proved she wasn't a flash in the pan.
Spanish
Su segunda medalla de oro demostró que su éxito no había sido flor de un día.
Related expressions
Last updated 2026-11-04