bright shiny object

English

Noun

bright shiny object (plural bright shiny objects)

1. (figuratively) Something that attracts a great deal of attention because of its appealing superficial characteristics.
   • 2003 April 11, Jim Kennedy, “Re: VMWare for Production Environment”, in comp.databases.oracle.server (Usenet):

     Why add this extra layer of software? It sounds like someone is wanting to use their new BSO. (Bright Shiny Object) I wouldn't use it in my production environments.

   • 2008, Larina Kase, The Confident Leader‎^[1], page 28:

     This is the “bright shiny object” phenomenon that the majority of entrepreneurs experience—you see something and are attracted to it ... until a new bright shiny object catches your eye.

   • 2010, Mitch Meyerson, Success Secrets of Social Media Marketing Superstars‎^[2], page 103:

     A lot of people just play with social media because it's this new, bright, shiny object, but they don't really know what they're doing.

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see bright,‎ shiny,‎ object.