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to go up in smoke
01
(of plans, hopes, etc.) to come to nothing or fail completely, often resulting in disappointment or loss
Idiom
What is the origin of the idiom "have had one's chips" and when to use it?
The idiom "have had one's chips" is believed to have originated in gambling, where "chips" are used to represent money. When a player loses all of their chips, they are out of the game and have nothing left to bet. In modern usage, this idiom is often used in a more general sense to describe any situation where a person or group has lost everything or failed completely.
Example
The politician's campaign promise went up in smoke after he was caught in a scandal.
The team's chances of winning the tournament are going up in smoke as they keep losing games.
The startup's plans to launch a new product have gone up in smoke due to technical difficulties.
The company's plan to expand its business has gone up in smoke due to the pandemic.
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