go down in flames

/ɡoʊ daʊn ɪn fleɪmz/
phrase★Intermediate💡 fail spectacularly◆idiom
◆ What It Really Means
To fail completely and publicly in a dramatic or catastrophic way.
Literal Meaning
To physically descend while burning, as in a plane crashing and bursting into flames.
Literal Breakdown
go downto descend or fall+in flameswhile burning or on fire
◇ Mental Image
The mental picture is of a plane or object crashing and bursting into flames, symbolizing a dramatic and complete failure.
◈ When to Use
A business executive might say, 'Our new product launch went down in flames because of poor market research,' to describe a disastrous failure.
◉ Cultural Note
This idiom is widely used in American English and has been popularized by media and entertainment, often used to describe high-profile failures in business, technology, and public performances.
informal

To fail completely and publicly in a dramatic or catastrophic way.

His attempt to impress the audience went down in flames when he forgot his lines.

His attempt to impress the audience failed completely when he forgot his lines.

The new product launch went down in flames due to poor planning.

The new product launch failed spectacularly due to poor planning.

💡

This idiom is often used to describe a sudden and complete failure, especially in business, technology, or public performances.

Related Phrases

crash and burnidiom
to fail completely and dramatically
fall flatidiom
to fail to impress or succeed

💡Pro Tip

Usage Context

Use this idiom when describing a sudden, dramatic failure, especially in public or high-stakes situations.

⚡Gold Rule

Avoid Overuse

While expressive, overusing this idiom can make your language sound dramatic or exaggerated.

📖Word Origin

The phrase likely originates from aviation, where a plane crashing and bursting into flames is a dramatic and complete failure. It has been used metaphorically since at least the mid-20th century.

📝Usage Notes

This idiom is commonly used in informal contexts to describe a sudden and public failure. It is often used in business, technology, and entertainment industries.

English Dictionary