fizzle

Meanings

Verb

• To sputter or hiss.
• To decay or die off to nothing; to burn out; to end less successfully than previously hoped.
• To fail to generate the expected yield when exploded during testing.

Noun

• A spluttering or hissing sound.
• Failure of an exploding nuclear bomb to meet its expected yield during testing.
• An abortive effort; a flop or dud.
• A state of agitation or worry.

Origin

• Attested in English since 1525-35. From earlier fysel. Related to fīsa. Compare with Swedish fisa ("to fart (silently)"). See also feist.