Go up in smoke
verb
To completely fail or be ruined.
Our plans for a picnic went up in smoke when it started to rain.
Often appears as...
- plans go up in smoke
- dreams go up in smoke
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
verb
To burn completely or be destroyed by fire.
The building went up in smoke within an hour.
Often appears as...
- house go up in smoke
- building go up in smoke
Usage tips
Negative
verb
To completely fail or be ruined.
Our plans for a picnic went up in smoke when it started to rain.
Often appears as...
- plans go up in smoke
- dreams go up in smoke
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
verb
To burn completely or be destroyed by fire.
The building went up in smoke within an hour.
Often appears as...
- house go up in smoke
- building go up in smoke
Usage tips
Negative
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Metaphorical Usage
Often used metaphorically to describe wasted efforts or failed ambitions, not just actual plans.
After failing the audition, her dreams of becoming an actress went up in smoke.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Outcome
The phrase implies a sense of disappointment or a negative outcome to a hopeful situation.
Their championship hopes went up in smoke after the star player got injured.
Pro Tip 3/3Irreversible Consequence
Used to express that something has been irreversibly damaged or lost.
The secret recipe went up in smoke when the chef passed away without writing it down.
Pro Tip 1/3Metaphorical Usage
Often used metaphorically to describe wasted efforts or failed ambitions, not just actual plans.
After failing the audition, her dreams of becoming an actress went up in smoke.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Outcome
The phrase implies a sense of disappointment or a negative outcome to a hopeful situation.
Their championship hopes went up in smoke after the star player got injured.
Pro Tip 3/3Irreversible Consequence
Used to express that something has been irreversibly damaged or lost.
The secret recipe went up in smoke when the chef passed away without writing it down.
Pro Tip 1/3Metaphorical Usage
Often used metaphorically to describe wasted efforts or failed ambitions, not just actual plans.
After failing the audition, her dreams of becoming an actress went up in smoke.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Outcome
The phrase implies a sense of disappointment or a negative outcome to a hopeful situation.
Their championship hopes went up in smoke after the star player got injured.
Pro Tip 3/3Irreversible Consequence
Used to express that something has been irreversibly damaged or lost.
The secret recipe went up in smoke when the chef passed away without writing it down.
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