Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
a gardening/plant/flower metaphor needed
English answer:
ephemeral, transient, fleeting
Added to glossary by
Luciano Eduardo de Oliveira
Sep 29, 2008 15:13
15 yrs ago
English term
a gardening/plant/flower metaphor needed
English
Art/Literary
Linguistics
metaphor
My author has referred to a "flower that blooms for just one day" in a Spanish expression that means literally "flower of one day" (flor de un dia).
the sentence goes:
...to establish whether the wealth generated is stable and long-lasting or is simply "flor de un dia".
I'm afraid I don't know enough about flowers for the expression I need to come to me, so I'm hoping someone will have a suggestion.
It doesn't even need to be flowers. One expression that occurs to me is "flash in the pan" but it's not so pretty, and also seems to imply that luck is involved.
the sentence goes:
...to establish whether the wealth generated is stable and long-lasting or is simply "flor de un dia".
I'm afraid I don't know enough about flowers for the expression I need to come to me, so I'm hoping someone will have a suggestion.
It doesn't even need to be flowers. One expression that occurs to me is "flash in the pan" but it's not so pretty, and also seems to imply that luck is involved.
Change log
Sep 29, 2008 18:29: Luciano Eduardo de Oliveira Created KOG entry
Responses
+4
2 mins
Luciano Eduardo de Oliveira
Brazil
Brazil
Specializes in field
Brazil
Passionate, reliable
Native in: Portuguese 
Works in: English to Portuguese, German to Portuguese, Dutch to Portuguese, and 8 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
ephemeral, transient, fleeting
No metaphors, sorry.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Ken Cox
: Or 'here today, gone tomorrow' in more colloquial language. I'm also not aware of any (common) metaphor for this in English.
9 mins
|
| agree |
Ioanna Daskalopoulou
: I like ephemeral which comes from the Greek word "efimeros" meaning short-lived, one-day, passing, fleeting, transient transitory. I think Lia can use the expression ephemeral flower
11 mins
|
| agree |
Edyta Sawin
: ephemeral flower - http://www.cactus-art.biz/note-book/Dictionary/Dictionary_E/...
57 mins
|
| agree |
Patricia Townshend (X)
: I like ephemeral.
3 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks:-)"
+1
14 mins
Shera Lyn Parpia
Italy
Italy
Native in English
&
English
Italy
translating meaning, not just words
Native in: English
Works in: English to Italian, Italian to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
+3
34 mins
one-day wonder
not horticultural in nature, but conveys the same meaning.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Christine Andersen
: wow, I remember it used to be a nine-day wonder! But I've heard this too.
47 mins
|
| agree |
Max Nuijens
1 hr
|
| agree |
Tania McConaghy
2 hrs
|
1 hr
Christine Andersen
Denmark
Denmark
Native in English
&
English
Denmark
the message, not just the words
Native in: English (Variant: UK)
Works in: Danish to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
bursts like a bubble
Bursts like a bubble is perhaps an idea.
Collapse like a card-house or simply comet are suggestions in my dictionary.
The only flower I can think of is something blowing away like a poppy, but it is not exactly proverbial.
Collapse like a card-house or simply comet are suggestions in my dictionary.
The only flower I can think of is something blowing away like a poppy, but it is not exactly proverbial.
1 hr
Rachel Fell
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
&
English
United Kingdom
Thorough, knowledgeable and resourceful
Native in: English (Variant: UK)
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, Italian to English, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
morning glory
I don't think it would fit your text as well as some of the other answers, but it is the sort of flower meant (there are other short-lived ones too)
nice pic.:
http://www.amazon.com/Heavenly-Morning-Glory-Seeds-UNTREATED...
I must say, my late flowering ones in this chilly northern summer/autumn often don't open until the middle of the day or later though are still short-lived...
nice pic.:
http://www.amazon.com/Heavenly-Morning-Glory-Seeds-UNTREATED...
I must say, my late flowering ones in this chilly northern summer/autumn often don't open until the middle of the day or later though are still short-lived...
Reference comments
17 mins
Ioanna Daskalopoulou
Greece
Greece
Native in English
&
English
Greece
Your limit up in translation!
Native in: Greek (Variant: Modern) 
, English (Variants: US, UK)
Works in: English, Greek to English, English to Greek, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Reference:
http://en.mimi.hu/gardening/ephemeral.html
Lia, on the above-mentioned site you can see a list of ephemeral flowers.
Lia, on the above-mentioned site you can see a list of ephemeral flowers.
Discussion
Suzan Hamer: 3:53pm Sep 29, 2008: I agree with Nesrin; "flash in the pan" was my first reaction.
"Meaning: Something which disappoints by failing to deliver anything of value, despite a showy beginning.
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/flash-in-the-pan.html
Lia Fail: 6:27pm Sep 29, 2008: flash in the pan - Just after I posted this query, I did check the meaning of flash in the pan and found that it did indeed mean exactly what I intended. Thanks to Nesrin and Suzan for confirming this. However, I also like transient and ephemeral and will consider these also.
Gary D: 2:37am Sep 30, 2008: here is a "day Lilly" Very common flower.
NancyLynn: 2:59am Sep 30, 2008: but the daylily flowers for weeks.