The Collaborative International Dictionary
fizzle \fiz"zle\ (f[i^]z"z'l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. fizzled (f[i^]z"z'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. fizzling (f[i^]z"zl[i^]ng).]
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To make a hissing sound.
It is the easiest thing, sir, to be done, As plain as fizzling.
--B. Jonson. -
To make a ridiculous failure in an undertaking, especially after a good start; to achieve nothing. [Colloq. or Low]
A four-day rally in stocks fizzled yesterday amid renewed fears that strong economic growth may prompt the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.
--Sharon R. King (N. Y. Times, May 6, 1998).To fizzle out, to burn with a hissing noise and then go out, like wet gunpowder; hence: to fail completely and ridiculously; to prove a failure. [Colloq.]
Usage examples of "to fizzle out".
It looked as if the great assault threatened for that night were going to fizzle out.
It signaled that the semipermeable force field between the bay and the tinted sea of gases outside was about to fizzle out.
Peter did hope the adventure wasn't going to fizzle out, after all!
She'd made her feelings towards him abundantly clear, of course, and common sense decreed that he leave this little drama to fizzle out, but he'd glimpsed too many enigmas tonight to be able to shrug off his unease and walk away.
Pie said, and for a moment Gentle thought the conversation was going to fizzle out there.