one-day wonder

one-day wonder

A person or thing that generates interest for only a short amount of time. The band's biggest fear was becoming a one-day wonder, soon to be forgotten when the next big sound hit the airwaves.
See also: wonder
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a one-day wonder

or

a nine-day wonder

A one-day wonder or a nine-day wonder is someone or something that is interesting, effective or successful for only a very short time. If the goal was simply to make people aware of environmental problems it was a great success. Our fear, though, is that this may prove to be a one-day wonder. When such an incident was occasionally reported in the press it was a nine-day wonder. Note: Other numbers can be used instead of one or nine. The right-wing politician had until recently been dismissed as a seven-day wonder following the success of his party in local elections. Note: `A nine-day wonder' may be related to the Catholic `Novena' festivals, which last for nine days.
See also: wonder
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • a one-day wonder
  • a seven-day wonder
  • seven-day wonder
  • nine day wonder
  • nine-day wonder
  • nine-day wonder, a
  • nine days' wonder
  • a nine days' wonder
  • a wonder lasts but nine days
  • fakus
References in periodicals archive
So, what started off as a one-day wonder will now help customers overcome their stresses on a monthly basis.
Make mine a Mocha and a massage; INSIDE OUT
England lost by 11 runs as one-day wonder Aravinda de Silva returned to work his magic in the the day-night match here yesterday.
England stumped by de Silva spin; CRICKET
Eaton, from Surrey, was a Wimbledon one-day wonder two years ago when, as a wild card, he got through to the second round.
EATON RIFLES CUT DOWN CHAMPIONS
"We're not looking for a one-day wonder, you don't need to look after a champion hurdler; it's about those who have been devoted to the game for a long time."
Trainers urged to boost number of nominations for stable staff awards
FLETCHER: Gave Shah the chop; ONE-DAY WONDER: But Shah still wants to make a name for himself in Tests
Cricket: SHAHFTED! STAR WITH SOMETHING TO PROVE Fletcher had it in for me, claims England Test reject Owais
WARWICKSHIRE new boy Darren Maddy arrives at Edgbaston with a point to prove - he is not just a one-day wonder.
MAD FOR IT! COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP 2007 I can still shine for more than one day - Darren
YOU could be a little tetchy today and, no matter what the earthly reasons for it, you can rest assured that the astrological one says it's only a one-day wonder. Treat it as such.
Stars
The Aussies - unusually lacklustre but without one-day wonder Michael Bevan, Adam Gilchrist and Glenn McGrath - have just tomorrow's game against Northamptonshire to prepare for the meeting with Pakistan in the triangular series at the weekend.
ashley giles's column on the bears beat: A real Test of character and controversy
Nick Knight is not content to be type-cast as just a one-day wonder opening batsman.
Knight the ideal man at a pinch for England
Like Pietersen before him, Buttler is attempting to make the transition from one-day wonder to Test match thrill-seeker.
I want to do it the KP way; CRICKET ENGLAND v INDIA: THIRD TEST AGEAS BOWL, TOMORROW, 11AM; BIG-HITTING BUTTLER WILL GO ON THE ATTACK
He is good friends with Aussie one-day wonder Gilchrist, who will be hoping to get his country's World Cup cricket campaign off to a flying start today.
Football: Aussies want more 'Ashes' clashes says Blues' Stan
Rose Selwyn, co-ordinator of Nuneaton and Bedworth in Bloom - Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council's own version of the national competition - said: "It's not just a one-day wonder, it's a whole community working together.
BLOOMING BEAUTIFUL; THE JUDGING TAKES ONLY ONE DAY BUT NUNEATON AND BEDWORTH FEEL THE BENEFITS OF THIS WONDERFUL DISPLAY FOR MANY WEEKS
"We knew what Armagh were going to bring and we wanted to show that Tyrone wasn't a one-day wonder thing," he said.
beg to differ; ULSTER SFC Monaghan No1 doesn't agree that final chance has passed by
One-day wonder? Obviously, I'm not as good at styling it as Mark, but it did blow-dry very sleek and fell back into place really well.
Beauty extra: Tonight, I'm going to be... KYLIE, MADONNA, KATE OR WINONA; We challenged four top hairdressers to transform our willing guinea pigs into celebrity look-alikes (well, on the top anyway). Did they succeed?
Tom Winsor, the Government's former rail regulator, branded Sir Rod's report a "one-day wonder" and said: "He is wrong to reject the idea of having major transport projects which will deliver really significant benefits to our country."
Fight will continue for a high speed rail link