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The idiom to go down in flames means to fail completely in a very dramatic or embarrassing way.
The phrase comes from aviation, where an aircraft that catches fire may fall from the sky in flames. The striking image led to the expression being used for failures that happen suddenly and publicly.
The phrase comes from aviation, where an aircraft that catches fire may fall from the sky in flames. The striking image led to the expression being used for failures that happen suddenly and publicly.
His ambitious business idea went down in flames after the investors pulled out.