going down in flames
Crashing and burning
Going down in flames means failing spectacularly and publicly, often after a period of success or high expectations.
The image comes from aircraft crashing while on fire—total, visible destruction.
His campaign went down in flames after the scandal broke.
The startup went down in flames when investors pulled out.
The phrase emphasizes both the dramatic nature of the failure and its finality.
- spectacleVisually striking event
- train wreckUtter chaotic disaster
- collapseSudden structural failure
- catastropheDevastating, large-scale misfortune
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
ruin · epic fail · fiasco · annihilation · downfall · inferno · meltdown · disaster · explosion · debacle · flop · blaze of glory · redemption · comeback · calamity · humiliation · obliteration · blunder
going down in flamestriumphing
Achieving a major victory
flying high · crushing it · nailing it · landing on one's feet · surviving
going down in flamessoft landing
Controlled, gradual descent
fading away · graceful exit · slipping away · smooth landing · controlled descent
going down in flamescrushing it
Succeeding impressively, colloquially
nailing it · striking gold · rising from the ashes · coming through
going, downer, downs, downed, downing, flame, flames, flamed, flaming