flame out
Lose all momentum
Flame out describes a jet engine losing power when its combustion fails—the flame literally goes out.
The phrase extends to any sudden, dramatic failure after initial promise: The startup flamed out after burning through its funding.
A person flames out when they crash spectacularly, often from burnout or excess: He flamed out of the music industry by thirty.
Complete commercial failure
- bombExplosive device or disaster
- tankLarge storage vessel
- fizzleFail after promising start
- collapseSudden structural failure
downfall · demise · defeat · washout · bust · misfire · fiasco · underperform
Emit irregular popping sounds
- gutterEdge channel for runoff
- douseWet completely, often flames
- quenchSatisfy or extinguish
- smotherDeprive of air
suffocate · starve · oxygen · wick · candle · ember · ash · smoke
Sudden violent impact
- engine failureLoss of motor function
- malfunctionFailure to operate properly
- stallEnclosed compartment or delay
- nosediveSudden steep descent
eject · mayday · distress · aircraft · pilot · cockpit · black box · tailspin
State of utter depletion
- overworkToil to exhaustion
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
- collapseSudden structural failure
depletion · drained · mental fatigue · emotional exhaustion · cynicism · detachment · apathy · demotivation
flop
Complete commercial failure
collapse · downfall · demise · defeat · washout · bust · misfire · fiasco · underperform · disappointment
sputter
Emit irregular popping sounds
smother · suffocate · starve · oxygen · wick · candle · ember · ash · smoke · flicker
crash
Sudden violent impact
- engine failureLoss of motor function
- malfunctionFailure to operate properly
- stallEnclosed compartment or delay
nosedive · eject · mayday · distress · aircraft · pilot · cockpit · black box · tailspin · airspeed
exhaustion
State of utter depletion
collapse · depletion · drained · mental fatigue · emotional exhaustion · cynicism · detachment · apathy · demotivation · compassion fatigue
- burnoutburnout, emotional exhaustion, exhaustion, exhausted, overwork
- failingfail, fails, collapse, flop, bomb
- failuresfailure, failures, flop, flops, bust
- fire idiomsplay with fire, fight fire with fire, add fuel to fire, on fire, catch fire
- emergency maneuversemergency landing, crash landing, forced landing, ditching, evasive action
- turbine enginesgas turbine, turbine, jet engine, turboshaft, turboprop
flame outtake off
Begin flight, depart
ignite · catch fire · blaze up · surge · gain momentum