go up in smoke

/ɡˌəʊ ˌʌp ɪn smˈəʊk/

/ɡˌoʊ ˌʌp ɪn smˈoʊk/

[phrase]

to go up in smoke

[PHRASE]

(of plans, hopes, etc.) to come to nothing or fail completely, often resulting in disappointment or loss

to [go] up in smoke definition and meaning

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.

Examples

1. Though the internet was clearly here to stay, countless start-ups with doobie-ous business plans failed and their investors’ dollars went up in smoke.

2. The company's plan to expand its business has gone up in smoke due to the pandemic.

3. The politician's campaign promise went up in smoke after he was caught in a scandal.

4. The team's chances of winning the tournament are going up in smoke as they keep losing games.

Nearby words