last big thing

• Last Big Thing

Back-formation from next big thing.

last big thing (plural last big things)

1. A recent fad or trend that has lost its popularity.
   • 2003, Time - Volume 162, page v:

     My nightstand, desktop, TiVo menu and mental to-do list are still full of last big things I never got around to— The Hulk, Friendster, hot yoga (or, for that matter, cold yoga)— and I'm paid to keep up with this stuff.

   • 2005, Eric Dolin, The Ph. D Survival Guide, →ISBN, page 19:

     My colleagues and I are searching for the next big thing in the field. The last big thing came about 15 years ago and we're currently in a “been there, done that” mode.

   • 2009, Alec Sharp, Patrick McDermott, Workflow Modeling: Tools for Process Improvement and Applications Development, →ISBN, page 4:

     We always, it seems, are provided with a glut of material on the next big thing and not enough on how to make the last big thing actually work.

   • 2011, Stephen Fried, Thing of Beauty, →ISBN, page 102:

     And, besides, appearances to the contrary, the fashion business was not really in the habit of changing bandwagons when the cutting-edgers started looking for the next big thing. They were usually still responding to the last big thing.

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see last,‎ big,‎ thing.