Fading in and out
Meaning
To repeatedly become less clear, intense, or present, then return, often intermittently.
Origin
At the dawn of the 20th century, as radio waves began to crisscross the globe and motion pictures flickered to life on silver screens, a new kind of sensory experience emerged: intermittent presence. Early radio broadcasts were plagued by static and weak signals, causing voices and music to drift in and out of audibility. Similarly, the nascent technology of film projectors sometimes struggled, making images on screen momentarily dim or vanish before returning. This literal, widespread experience of unreliable signals and flickering visuals quickly gave birth to "fading in and out" as a succinct description not just for mechanical quirks, but for anything that repeatedly appears, disappears, or wavers in intensity.
Examples
- The old radio signal kept fading in and out, making it difficult to hear the news report.
- Her concentration would fade in and out during the long lecture, especially after lunch.