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  What it means

  Literally “straw enthusiasm,” this idiom describes motivation that burns brightly but dies out almost instantly — just like straw, which catches fire easily but is consumed in seconds. If someone has “słomiany zapał,” they get excited about a new project, hobby, or plan but give up soon after starting. It is often said with a touch of disapproval or resignation: “Znowu słomiany zapał” (Again, just a flash in the pan). The phrase perfectly captures the pattern of starting strong and fading fast.

  Vocabulary

  • słomiany — made of straw, straw- (adjective from 'słoma')
  • słoma — straw
  • zapał — enthusiasm, zeal, passion

  Grammar note

  This is a noun phrase in the nominative: 'słomiany' (masculine adjective, nominative singular) + 'zapał' (masculine noun, nominative singular). The adjective agrees with the noun in gender, number, and case. In use it most often appears with 'mieć' (to have) in the accusative: 'mieć słomiany zapał.' It can also function as a predicate: 'To jest tylko słomiany zapał' (It's just a flash in the pan).

  Cultural context

  A well-known, widely used expression understood by all Poles, from children to grandparents. It reflects a culturally recognized character type — someone who starts things with great fanfare but never finishes them. It is slightly more polite than calling someone lazy; it focuses on the pattern rather than the person's character. The English equivalent 'flash in the pan' captures the meaning well; 'nine-day wonder' also works. Used comfortably in informal and moderately formal contexts.

  Beginner

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