go up in smoke

Verb

Meaning

To catch fire and burn.

(idiomatic, by extension) To be completely ruined or devastated.
When the bank refused the credit, all our plans went up in smoke.

Source: en.wiktionary.org

Synonyms

fail fizzle miscarry fall flat fall through misfire run aground fall short crash and burn come to nothing go up in flames

Examples

Because of the teamwork of the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation, Jerry Burke and Randy Benham have seen their ill-gotten gains go up in smoke.” Source: Internet

Discuss "Don’t let money go up in smoke this winter" Source: Internet

Close letter words and terms

go up and down go up for go up in flames go up in the world go up the stairs to bedfordshire go up the wall