go up in flames

Idioms  

1. Also, go up in smoke. Be utterly destroyed, as in This project will go up in flames if the designer quits, or All our work is going up in smoke. This idiom transfers a fire to other kinds of destruction. [Early 1900s]

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Example Sentences

The Chungs moved in a decade ago to Wang Cheong House – the first of the seven tower blocks at Tai Po to go up in flames.

From BBC

He estimated there are more than 400 tons of dead and downed material per acre that could go up in flames.

From Los Angeles Times

This week saw further conflict in the Middle East, MPs vote to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales, and another SpaceX rocket go up in flames.

From BBC

"The coastguard told me to put it next to the bins, not in it, because it stinks of fuel and they obviously don't want it to go up in flames if someone drops a cigarette end in there."

From BBC

We should not allow the story and wonder of Tommy Hawkins to go up in flames without a proper recounting.

From Los Angeles Times