crash and burn

/kræʃ ænd bɜrn/◆idiom

fail spectacularly

The new product launch crashed and burned because of poor marketing.

The product launch failed completely due to ineffective marketing.

◆ What It Really Means

To fail in a sudden, dramatic, and often humiliating way, leaving no chance of recovery or redemption.

¶ Literal Meaning

To collide violently and then catch fire.

Literal Breakdown

crashto collide violently with something+andconnective+burnto be consumed by fire

◇ Mental Image

A mental picture of a vehicle or aircraft hitting the ground violently and then bursting into flames, symbolizing a spectacular and irreversible failure.

◈ When to Use

Imagine a startup founder presenting to investors. The presentation is going well until the internet cuts out, and the slides fail to load. The founder stammers, the investors look disappointed, and the product launch is a complete disaster. Someone might say, 'Their pitch crashed and burned spectacularly.'

◉ Cultural Note

The phrase gained popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, reflecting the era's fascination with aviation disasters and the dramatic imagery they evoked. It has since become a staple in informal English to describe any kind of public or professional failure.

informal

to fail completely and often publicly in a dramatic or embarrassing way

His presentation crashed and burned when the projector stopped working.

His presentation failed completely when technical issues arose.

The startup crashed and burned after just six months in business.

The startup failed spectacularly after only half a year.

Often used to describe failures in business, performances, or personal endeavors where the outcome is both sudden and humiliating.

Collocations

crash and burn spectacularlyfail in a very dramatic or noticeable waycompletely crash and burnfail without any chance of recovery

to fail completely and publicly

fall flat on its faceidiom

to fail utterly

bombslang

to fail completely, especially in entertainment or business

Pro Tip

When to use 'crash and burn'

Use this idiom when describing a failure that is both sudden and embarrassing, especially in situations where the outcome was highly anticipated or public. Avoid using it for minor setbacks.

Gold Rule

Avoid literal interpretation

Remember that 'crash and burn' is an idiom. Do not use it to describe actual accidents involving vehicles or fires.

Word Origin

The phrase originated in the mid-20th century, likely from aviation terminology where 'crash' refers to an aircraft hitting the ground and 'burn' implies the resulting fire. By the 1970s, it evolved into a metaphor for any dramatic failure.

Usage Notes

This idiom is informal and should be avoided in formal writing or professional contexts. It carries a strong connotation of embarrassment or humiliation.

Word Breakdown

crash

to fail suddenly and dramatically

verb

and

connective

conjunction

burn

to suffer damage or failure

verb

English Dictionary

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