Fizzle out means gradually lose energy and stop: a conversation, project, interest or relationship. The project fizzled out when the organisers moved away. Picture a firework that hisses and goes dark without exploding. That's why the phrase sounds disappointed: it started with energy and ended with nothing.
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a plan / conversation / relationship fizzles out
- The conversation fizzled out after everyone checked their phones.
- Interest in the competition gradually fizzled out.
- The project fizzled out when the organisers moved away.
What changed
First versionThe discussion was fizzled out after lunch.
RevisionThe discussion fizzled out after lunch.
Things often seem to be ended by someone, so a passive like was fizzled out sneaks in. But fizzle out is never passive: the discussion died out on its own. The correct form is simply fizzled out.
Fall through means a plan collapsed and never happened: our trip fell through. Fizzle out means it was already going but ran out of steam: the club fizzled out after a few months. End is neutral, with no disappointment at all.
Your turn
Choose the natural active form: The campaign ___ when volunteers stopped responding.
Show the answer
fizzled out — The campaign died out by itself, so the form is active: fizzled out, without was.
Describe a club, group chat or project that started with energy and then fizzled out.
The weekly reading group fizzled out after several members changed their work schedules.
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