go down in flames
To fail spectacularly or to a great degree. Despite all the media hype, the major summer blockbuster went down in flames—hardly anyone went to see it while it was in theaters. Did you hear that the developers' plans for a new apartment block went down in flames? Yup, the city shut them down. To fail is one thing, but to have your passion project go down in flames is absolutely devastating.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
go down in flames
1. Lit. [for a plane] to crash. The enemy fighter planes went down in flames, ending the battle. The pilot and crew went down in flames near the air-port.
2. . Fig. to fail spectacularly. The whole project went down in flames. Todd wentdown in flames in his efforts to win the heart of Marsha.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
go down in flames
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.