flame-out
Jet engine failure
A flame-out is a sudden, spectacular failure—especially the collapse of a promising career or venture.
The term comes from aviation, where it describes engine failure caused by combustion stopping mid-flight.
The figurative sense dominates: His flame-out was swift after the scandal broke.
Someone who flames out burns brightly before abruptly failing.
Enclosed compartment or delay
- malfunctionFailure to operate properly
- shutdownCessation of operations
- misfireFailure to discharge
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
relight · windmill · afterburner · glide · single-engine
State of utter depletion
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
- collapseSudden structural failure
- depletionReduction of supply
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
overwork · disillusionment · cynicism · apathy · demotivation · drained · detachment · weariness
Sudden loss of power
- washoutComplete failure or cancellation
- fizzleFail after promising start
- bustFailure or sculpture
- bombExplosive device or disaster
fiasco · debacle · meltdown · unraveling · self-destruction · derailment · wipeout
stall
Enclosed compartment or delay
- malfunctionFailure to operate properly
- shutdownCessation of operations
- misfireFailure to discharge
breakdown · relight · windmill · afterburner · glide · single-engine
exhaustion
State of utter depletion
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
- collapseSudden structural failure
- depletionReduction of supply
stress · overwork · disillusionment · cynicism · apathy · demotivation · drained · detachment · weariness · lethargy
downfall
Sudden loss of power
bomb · fiasco · debacle · meltdown · unraveling · self-destruction · derailment · wipeout
tailspin
Steep spiral descent
wreckage · impact · disaster · investigation · catastrophe · ditching · fireball
flame-outignition
Starting combustion process
light-up · start-up · firing · combustion · relight
flame-outbreakthrough
Sudden important advance
ascent · triumph · blossoming · staying power · rise
flame, out, flames, flamed, flaming, flamer, flamers, flammable, inflammable