go down in flames

0.06 sec.

go down in flames

to fail or end suddenly and completely. We've seen two big mass-transit plans go down in flames in the last two years. The idea of self-respect went up in flames a long time ago.

Related vocabulary: go up in smoke

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of a plane that goes down in flames (= falls to the ground and burns)

See also: down, flame

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? References in periodicals archive
And chances are we won't go down in flames from skies between the place we live and where we go to look at paintings showing other pairs--affectionate Dutch couples, John and Salome, Danae and her lap of coins, Apollo and Daphne, Adam and God, Adam and Eve, Eve and the snake, old and affectionate Dutch couples. This is my plan by Miller-Duggan, Devon / U.S. Catholic ``If the people of Los Angeles realize what this measure contains, I think it will go down in flames. PROP. R ON BALLOT AT LEAST TILL OCT. 3 APPEALS COURT TO REVIEW ISSUE by Daily News (Los Angeles, CA) In the history books, summer 2000 may go down in flames. FLAMING FURY by C.B. / Science World More results

References in periodicals archive

And chances are we won't go down in flames from skies between the place we live and where we go to look at paintings showing other pairs--affectionate Dutch couples, John and Salome, Danae and her lap of coins, Apollo and Daphne, Adam and God, Adam and Eve, Eve and the snake, old and affectionate Dutch couples.

This is my plan by Miller-Duggan, Devon / U.S. Catholic

``If the people of Los Angeles realize what this measure contains, I think it will go down in flames.

PROP. R ON BALLOT AT LEAST TILL OCT. 3 APPEALS COURT TO REVIEW ISSUE by Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)

In the history books, summer 2000 may go down in flames.

FLAMING FURY by C.B. / Science World

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go belly up
go beyond the pale
go blank
go by the board
go by the book
go cold turkey
go down a treat

go down in flames
go down in history
go down like a lead balloon
go down that road
go down the plughole
go down the tubes
go down the wrong way
go down/fall like ninepins

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