Up in smoke means that something has suddenly failed or disappeared. A plan or effort can collapse and leave nothing behind.
The phrase comes from the image of smoke rising and fading into the air. Once it drifts away, nothing remains. The expression uses that image to describe something that vanishes or falls apart.
The phrase comes from the image of smoke rising and fading into the air. Once it drifts away, nothing remains. The expression uses that image to describe something that vanishes or falls apart.
Months of careful planning went up in smoke when the event was canceled.