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Great Western Coffee Shop > All across the Great Western territory > Introductions and chat > Topic no. 20,000
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grahame
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« on: June 28, 2018, 15:31:45 »
This is topic no. 20,000 - http://twcrp.info/t20000

Truly the Coffee Shop isn't just a flash in the pan ... where we ran out of things to talk about.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #1 on: November 10, 2024, 22:40:37 »
25,802 topics now - perhaps a few less than there would otherwise be - due to my merging some of them, simply for continuity, clarity and ease of future reference. Roll Eyes

Now, does anyone know where this expression comes from:

Quote
just a flash in the pan

No cheating - by looking it up on the internet, for example - who actually knows?

CfN.
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William Huskisson MP▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
Richard Fairhurst
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« Reply #2 on: November 10, 2024, 23:08:04 »
Complete guess: California Gold Rush?
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #3 on: November 10, 2024, 23:14:25 »
Sorry, Richard: not even close to the answer.  Lips sealed
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William Huskisson MP▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
Western Pathfinder
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« Reply #4 on: November 11, 2024, 00:06:27 »
 If my memory serves me well enough flash in the pan is much older than the Gold Rush and I seem to remember that it has something to do with an early form of firearm flintlock something like that and it flashes when it's loaded  incorrectly leading to dangerous detonation outside of the barrel .
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #5 on: November 11, 2024, 00:21:33 »
It's absolutely that, Western Pathfinder.  Wink

In the old days (1700s and 1800s) of black gunpowder weapons, the intention was to ignite the main charge in the barrel of the gun via an external small pan of gunpowder. That was ignited by either a match, or a flint and steel, mechanism. If that link wasn't successful, and only the primer went off, it was 'just a flash in the pan'.

CfN.  Wink
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William Huskisson MP▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
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