"nine days' wonder" origin
"Nine days' wonder" refers to something that generates a lot of interest or excitement but is forgotten quickly. It describes a short-lived sensation or fad.
The phrase "nine days' wonder" dates back to at least the 16th century and reflects an old belief that public fascination with any remarkable event or person tends to fade after about nine days. The origin of this expression is rooted in the idea that novelty wears off quickly and that people have short-lived attention spans when it comes to sensational happenings.
Historical Origins
- Early Literary Appearances
- One of the earliest known uses of the phrase appears in William Baldwin’s 1550 book Beware the Cat, where he writes:
"For the people have this wonderful gift, to set all their wits to wonder at nothing, and after nine days’ wonder to be weary of one thing."
This suggests that even in the 16th century, people recognized that public interest in shocking or surprising events would diminish within a short period. - In 1600, the English playwright and poet Samuel Rowlands used the phrase in his work The Letting of Humour's Blood in the Head-Vein:
"Be it a king's head, or a beggar's heel, if it be strange it matters not a straw, you shall have it for a nine days' wonder."
This reinforces the idea that anything unusual or surprising—whether significant or trivial—would only hold public interest briefly.
- One of the earliest known uses of the phrase appears in William Baldwin’s 1550 book Beware the Cat, where he writes:
- Shakespeare’s Use
- William Shakespeare also alluded to the concept in Henry VI, Part 3 (c. 1591), though he didn’t use the exact phrase. He wrote:
"A great man's memory may outlive his life half a year; but by'r lady, he must build churches then, or else shall he suffer not thinking on, with the hobby-horse, whose epitaph is, 'For, O, for O, the hobby-horse is forgot.'”
This passage suggests that even great men are forgotten quickly unless they leave behind something lasting.
- William Shakespeare also alluded to the concept in Henry VI, Part 3 (c. 1591), though he didn’t use the exact phrase. He wrote:
- Connection to Folk Traditions
- Some scholars believe the phrase might be linked to medieval traditions where fairs or celebrations often lasted for nine days. After the event ended, people would quickly lose interest in it, much like they do with short-lived fads.
- Others suggest that in earlier times, new events or spectacles—such as the arrival of a traveling performer or a natural phenomenon—would be intensely discussed for about nine days before fading from memory.
Example sentences:
1. The scandal was a nine days' wonder, and soon everyone moved on to the next big news.
2. His sudden rise to fame turned out to be just a nine days' wonder.
3. The viral video became a nine days' wonder, but no one talks about it anymore.
4. Their relationship was seen as a nine days' wonder, and few believed it would last.
5. The fashion trend was nothing more than a nine days' wonder, fading as quickly as it appeared.
Similar expression:
1. Flash in the pan
- His music career turned out to be just a flash in the pan.
2. Here today, gone tomorrow
- That trendy restaurant is here today, gone tomorrow—people will forget about it soon.
3. One-hit wonder
- The singer was a one-hit wonder, and no one remembers him now.
4. Flavor of the month
- This social media trend is just the flavor of the month.
5. Burn bright and burn out
- The startup burned bright and burned out within a year.