Go up in flames Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈɡoʊ/ /ˈəp/ /ˈɪn/, /ɪn/ /ˈfɫeɪmz

GOH UHP IN FLAYMZ

UK

ɡˈəʊ/ /ˈʌp/ /ˈɪn/ /flˈeɪmz

goh UP IN FLAYMZ

Definition

To burn completely and be destroyed by fire; also used figuratively to mean something failing suddenly and completely.

Usage & Nuances

Often dramatic or emotional; can be literal (with fire) or figurative (dreams, plans). Used in both formal and informal English. Common figurative phrase: 'The project went up in flames.' Not interchangeable with 'catch fire' (which only means to start burning).

• Spanish: arder en llamas - destruirse por completo
• Portuguese (BR): pegar fogo - ser destruído pelo fogo
• Portuguese (PT): arder em chamas - ser destruído pelo fogo
• Chinese (Simplified): 付之一炬 - 烧毁
• Chinese (Traditional): 付之一炬 - 燒毀
• Hindi: आग की लपटों में जल उठना - पूरी तरह नष्ट होना
• Arabic: اشتعلت بالنيران - تدمرت بالكامل
• Bengali: আগুনে পুড়ে ছাই হওয়া - সম্পূর্ণভাবে ধ্বংস হয়ে যাওয়া (আশা/পরিকল্পনা)
• Russian: сгореть дотла - потерпеть полный крах (в переносном смысле)
• Japanese: 炎に包まれて燃え尽きる - 完全に失敗する（比喩）
• Vietnamese: cháy rụi hoàn toàn - thất bại hoàn toàn (nghĩa bóng)
• Korean: 불타 없어지다 - 완전히 망하다 (비유적으로)
• Turkish: alevler içinde yok olmak - tamamen başarısız olmak (mecazi)
• Urdu: آگ میں جل کر راکھ ہو جانا - اچانک ناکام ہو جانا (مجازاً)
• Indonesian: terbakar habis - gagal total (kiasan)

Example Sentences

The house went up in flames after the lightning strike.

basic

My old car went up in flames on the highway.

basic

Their hopes for the new store went up in flames when it closed suddenly.

basic

The experiment went up in flames—literally! The whole lab caught fire.

natural

All our hard work on the website went up in flames after the server crash.

natural

His plans to travel the world went up in flames when he lost his job.

natural