crashing and burning
Going down hard
Crashing and burning is failing spectacularly and publicly.
The phrase evokes an aircraft plummeting in flames—total, visible destruction.
It applies to performances, relationships, business ventures, or any undertaking that collapses dramatically: I asked her out and crashed and burned, The startup crashed and burned after six months.
Sometimes shortened to crash and burn as a verb or command.
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
- falling apartGradually breaking into pieces
- flopComplete commercial failure
- epic failSpectacular, embarrassing blunder
- bankruptcyLegal status when insolvent
collision · ruin · wreckage · fiasco · calamity · implosion · impact · fireball · going down in flames · up in smoke · trainwreck · total disaster · catastrophe · firing · meltdown · downfall · career suicide · nosedive
crashing and burningsucceeding
Attaining aims or following
triumphing · thriving · flourishing · nailing it · winning
crashing and burningsoft landing
Controlled, gradual descent
smooth landing · sticking the landing · controlled descent · graceful descent · pulling up
crashing and burningsoaring
Rising effortlessly upward
taking off · rising · ascending · skyrocketing · climbing
crash, crashes, crashed, crasher, crashers, burned, burning, burner, burners