go up in smoke
The idiom "go up in smoke" originates from the visual imagery of something burning and disappearing into the air.
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Definition
B2General
(literal, informal)To be destroyed by fire.
Example
- The entire warehouse went up in smoke within minutes.
B2General
(figurative, informal)To fail or be ruined completely.
Example
- All our hard work went up in smoke when the project was canceled.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "go up in smoke":
go up in flamessmoke upgo to potfizzle outsmoke outburn upflame outblaze upcatch fireflame upgob upgive up the ghostgo to shitspark upgo belly-upblow upgo by the boardgo updie on the vinescorch upsmoke bombbite the dustburn outsputter outbomb outburn downsmoke dopecome a cropperstink up