fizzle out

present singular third person fizzles out · participle present fizzling out · participle past fizzled out · past fizzled out

1. intransitiveslangTo lose excitement, to become less exciting; to end, fail or die out in a weak or disappointing way.

   That would see the disputes fizzle out into an industrial relations zombie - neither living nor dead.

   2023 March 8, Philip Haigh, “Comment: Give rail staff a pay vote”, in RAIL, number 978, page 3

   2 more examples

   Tottenham had hoped to make a statement of real intent against the title pace-setters and while manager Harry Redknapp did not secure the victory he craved, he at least saw his side match United every stride of the way in a game that fizzled out after a bristling start.

   2011 January 15, Phil McNulty, “Tottenham 0 - 0 Man Utd”, in BBC

   [Michelle] Saniei’s marriage with now ex-husband Jesse Lally fizzled out in front of “The Valley” cameras.

   2026 April 28, Carson Blackwelder, “How unlikely couple Dr. Dre and ‘The Valley’ star Michelle Saniei crossed paths”, in Page Six

2. slangtransitiveTo kill or end (someone or something).