fifteen minutes of fame
/ˌfɪfˈtiːn ˈmɪnɪts əv feɪm/
Meaning
A phrase coined by artist Andy Warhol, referring to the brief, temporary period of media publicity or celebrity status that an ordinary person or minor event receives. It suggests that such attention is fleeting and quickly forgotten.
Examples
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The viral video star enjoyed their fifteen minutes of fame before returning to their day job.
The viral video star enjoyed their fifteen minutes of fame before returning to their day job.
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Many reality TV contestants only get fifteen minutes of fame before fading into obscurity.
Many reality TV contestants only get fifteen minutes of fame before fading into obscurity.
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She is determined to turn her fifteen minutes of fame into a long-term career in media.
She is determined to turn her fifteen minutes of fame into a long-term career in media.
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The local hero had his fifteen minutes of fame when he was interviewed on national television.
The local hero had his fifteen minutes of fame when he was interviewed on national television.
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In the internet age, almost anyone can get their fifteen minutes of fame overnight.
In the internet age, almost anyone can get their fifteen minutes of fame overnight.
Common Mistakes
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✗ He got his fifteen minutes of famous.
✓ He got his fifteen minutes of fame.
'Fame' is the noun required here; 'famous' is an adjective and cannot follow the preposition 'of' in this structure.
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✗ She is enjoying her fifteen-minute fame.
✓ She is enjoying her fifteen minutes of fame.
The idiom is fixed as 'fifteen minutes of fame' and should not be condensed into a compound modifier like 'fifteen-minute fame'.
Related Expressions
Practice
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The meme went viral on Monday, but by Friday, his ___ was already over.
💡 Brief, fleeting celebrity status.
Show answer
fifteen minutes of fame
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Most internet celebrities only get their ___ before the public moves on to the next trend.
💡 Short-lived media attention.
Show answer
fifteen minutes of fame