go for a Burton

To fail or become useless; to die. Primarily heard in UK. Well, my plan to go to the beach will go for a Burton if it's supposed to rain all weekend. My goodness, I thought I was about to go for a Burton when that car sped through the zebra crossing! Plans for the gala went for a Burton when chief donor backed out and took his millions with him.

gone for a burton

Having failed or become useless; dead. Primarily heard in UK. Well, my plan to go to the beach is gone for a burton now that it's supposed to rain all weekend. My goodness, I was nearly gone for a burton when that car sped through the zebra crossing! Plans for the gala have officially gone for a burton now that the chief donor has backed out and taken his millions with him.

go for a Burton

meet with disaster; be ruined, destroyed, or killed.British informal

This phrase first appeared in mid 20th- century air force slang, meaning ‘be killed in a crash’. It has been suggested that it refers to Burton's, the British men's outfitters, or to Burton, a kind of ale, but these are folk etymologies with no definite evidence to support them, and the origin of the phrase remains uncertain.