nine-day wonder

plural nine-day wonders · alternative nine days' wonder · alternative nine day wonder

1. idiomaticSomething that generates interest for a limited time and is then abandoned.

   I vvas ſeuen of the nine daies out of the vvonder, before you came:[…]

   [c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 196, column 1

   5 more examples

   […] I am content this vvinter to haue my doings read for a toye, that in ſommer they may be ready for traſh. It is not ſtraunge vvhen as the greateſt vvonder laſteth but nyne dayes, that a nevve vvorke ſhould not endure but three monethes.

   [[1578], Iohn Lylly [i.e., John Lyly], “To the Gentlemen Readers”, in Euphues. The Anatomy of Wyt. […], London: […] [Thomas East] for Gabriell Cawood, […], →OCLC

   This that I did vvas for a policie, / To ſmooth and keepe the murther ſecret, / VVhich at a nine daies vvonder being ore-blovvne, / My gentle ſiſter vvill I novv inlarge.

   c. 1587 (date written), [Thomas Kyd], The Spanish Tragedie: […] (Fourth Quarto), London: […] W[illiam] W[hite] for T[homas] Pauier, […], published 1602, →OCLC, Act III

   VVould that vvere the vvorſt: / That vvere but nine dayes vvonder, […]

   1625 (date written), Philip Massinger, A New Way to Pay Old Debts: A Comœdie […], London: […] E[lizabeth] P[urslowe] for Henry Seyle, […], published 1633, →OCLC, Act IV, scene ii

   But vvhen the frequent Soule-departing Bell / Has pav'd their eares vvith her familiar knell, / It is reputed but a nine dayes vvonder, / They neither feare the Thund'rer, nor his Thunder; […]

   1635, Fra[ncis] Quarles, “Canto VIII. Luke VI. XXV.”, in Emblemes, London: […] G[eorge] M[iller] and sold at at Iohn Marriots shope […], →OCLC, book I, page 34

   The pleasant scandal which arose next day, / The nine days' wonder which was brought to light, / And how Alfonso sued for a divorce, / Were in the English newspapers, of course.

   1819 July 15, [Lord Byron], Don Juan, London: […] Thomas Davison, […], →OCLC, canto I, stanza CLXXXVIII, page 97

   Synonyms: flash in the pan, seven-day wonder, one-trick pony