end in smoke

end in smoke

To result in no tangible or appreciable difference; to culminate in failure. The company's efforts to break into the smartphone market ended in smoke, and they quietly discontinued the service after a year. For all the optimism at the outset of the negotiations, they seem to have ended in smoke. I haven't heard much about that proposed merger from a while back. It must have ended in smoke.

See also: end, smoke

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