You may have heard the term ‘damp squib’ used in conversation but what does it mean? We are going to look at the meaning of this saying plus how we can use it in our conversations. We will also take a brief look into the history of the saying and where it came from.
Damp Squib
Damp Squib Meaning
The meaning behind the term ‘damp squib’ is something that turned out to be much less exciting than originally expected. It can refer to something being a let down or a bore.
Origin of this idiom
The term ‘damp squib’ originally came from the word for a type of firework which gave a very unenthusiastic and mild explosion when let off. The term was first used in the 1500s, referring to a squib which had become damp and therefore did not go off as expected.
“Damp Squib” Examples
You would use the saying ‘damp squib’ to describe an event which did not go as planned, you might say something similar to this; ‘I was so looking forward to the party last night but it ended up being a damp squib.’ You could use the saying to refer to any type of event from a music concert to a business meeting.
Example Sentences
- The party was a bit of a damp squib.
- The all-party meeting was a damp squib.
- The pop concert went off like a damp squib when the main actors failed to appear.
- The joke which I thought would make her laugh, proved a damp squib.
Conversation Examples
Here are some ways in which the term ‘damp squib’ might fit into your daily conversations. In the first example the person is implying that the meeting did not go very well after it was expected to be a success. The second example features a person telling someone that the show they are looking forward to seeing is sure to be a let down.
Conversation 1:
- Person 1: “How did the meeting go yesterday afternoon?”
- Person 2: “It was a real damp squib, hardly anyone turned up and not a lot was discussed.”
Conversation 2:
- Person 1: I’m really excited about going to the concert tonight.”
- Person 2: “I wouldn’t get too excited, Bill went to the showing last night and said it was a damp squib.”
Other Ways to Say the Phrase
There are many other ways that you can express the meaning of the idiomatic term ‘damp squib.’ Here are some examples of other things you could say.
- It was a flop
- Disaster
- Anticlimax
- Not as good as expected
- Disappointment
Damp Squib | Picture
Last Updated on March 19, 2021