damp squib

D d

Definitions of damp squib words

phrase damp squib You can describe something such as an event or a performance as a damp squib when it is expected to be interesting, exciting, or impressive, but fails to be any of these things. 3
noun damp squib something intended but failing to impress 3
noun damp squib something meant but failing to impress or succeed. 1
noun damp squib A firework that fails to go off, due to wetting. 0
noun damp squib (Idiomatic) (by extension) Anything that doesn’t work properly, or fails to come up to expectations. 0

before 1965

One of the 2% newest English words

First recorded in 1965-70

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

This term is known only to a narrow circle of people with rare knowledge. Only 29% of English native speakers know the meaning of this word.

According to our data most of word are more popular. This word is almost not used. It has a much more popular synonym.

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

anticlimax — You can describe something as an anticlimax if it disappoints you because it happens after something that was very exciting, or because it is not as exciting as you expected.
dud — a device, person, or enterprise that proves to be a failure.
letdown — a decrease in volume, force, energy, etc.: a letdown in sales; a general letdown of social barriers.