go up / down in flames

/ɡˌəʊ ˌʌp dˌaʊn ɪn flˈeɪmz/

/ɡˌoʊ ˌʌp dˌaʊn ɪn flˈeɪmz/

[phrase]

to go up / down in flames

[PHRASE]

to experience a complete failure or defeat, often accompanied by dramatic or disastrous consequences

to [go] (up|down) in flames definition and meaning

to be set on fire and burned completely, often causing a lot of damage or destruction

Examples

1. The fueler especially is at risk 'cause he's got a big giant fuel hose in his hand that's pumping a lot of gallons per second and if that malfunctions and breaks, he's gonna be doused in a very flammable liquid and has the potential to go up in flames.

2. The Turkish countryside went up in flames as the Greek army and Greek civilians burned Turkish villages, while Turkish people retaliated in kind.

3. On May 1st, the proposal went down in flames.

4. The project is going up in flames due to mismanagement.

Nearby words