went up in smoke
Disappeared without trace
Went up in smoke means something was destroyed, ruined, or came to nothing—like a physical object consumed by fire until nothing remains.
The phrase usually describes plans, hopes, investments, or efforts that failed completely: All our hard work went up in smoke when the project was cancelled.
His retirement savings went up in smoke in the crash.
- incineratedDestroyed by fire
- destroyedMade to cease existing
- crash and burnFail completely and visibly
- evaporatedConverted to gas
- vanishedDisappeared from sight
up in flames · dissipated · collapsed · house of cards · ruined · total loss · obliterated · consumed · ashes · fiasco · disappointment · misfortune · best laid plans · all for nothing · pipe dream · setback · money pit · evanescent
went up in smokepaid off
Yielded a positive result
succeeded · materialized · bore fruit · panned out · worked out
went up in smokefaded away
Gradually lost presence
petered out · wound down · withered away · tapered off · dwindled
went up in smokeendured
Bore without yielding
survived · persisted · lasted · weathered the storm · held together
went, upwards, upping, inwards, smoke, smokes, smoked, smoking, smoker