in flames


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in flames

Of a failure, spectacularly and permanently. Used in the phrases "down in flames" and "up in flames." My campaign speech went down in flames after I forgot everything I had rehearsed and just stood on stage sweating. If we don't get that shipment by Monday, our whole business plan will go up in flames.
See also: flame
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
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References in periodicals archive ?
The car, a Lamborghini Countach, looked like it went up in flames after its middle-mounted V12 engine exploded into fire.
Ouch! Rare Lamborghini worth [pounds sterling]400,000 reduced to charred wreckage after bursting into flames on roadside; The car, a Lamborghini Countach, looked like it went up in flames after its middle-mounted V12 engine exploded into fire
A couple, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, lost each of their cars when they went up in flames in the middle of the night.
Fears over arson attacks on cars; NORTHFIELD: Parked vehicles destroyed by yobs in spate of incidents
but when Shelley Mandiville joined in a stunt for a friend's joke website her life as a carefree teenager went up in flames.
NET JACKASS STUNT LEFT ME LIKE THIS; EXCLUSIVE One year ago pretty teenager Shelley had long blonde hair and lovely skin. Now she bears the horrific scars of a website prank that ended in disaster
The building, which is used for sports events, weddings and christenings, was engulfed in flames upon arrival and, despite brave efforts to quell the fire, the club was destroyed.
Firebugs destroy social club building
Last August, 18 sailors were killed when the fully-armed submarine INS Sindhurakshak exploded in flames and sank in a military shipyard in Mumbai.
Indian Navy hunts for missing sailors after chief quits
STAFF at a Nuneaton sheltered housing complex are urging elderly people to be on their guard after one of their residents saw her bedroom engulfed in flames.
Warning after fire attack
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