C1idiomsuccessIELTS-friendly
go up in smoke
USUK
if a plan or hope goes up in smoke, it fails completely
Also used literally, about a building burning down. Vietnamese 'tan thành mây khói' is a close match.
In context
When the investor pulled out, all our plans for a second shop went up in smoke.
Years of savings can go up in smoke if you trust the wrong investment.
More idioms about success
- a blessing in disguisesomething that seems bad at first but later brings a good result
- a close calla situation in which you only just avoid danger or failure
- a dream come truesomething you have wanted for a long time that has finally happened
- a feather in your capan achievement that you can be proud of and that may help you later
- a flash in the pana sudden success that does not last or happen again