go down in flames
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English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Referencing aeroplanes being shot down. Attested since the early 20th century.
Pronunciation
[edit]Audio (General Australian): (file)
Verb
[edit]go down in flames (third-person singular simple present goes down in flames, present participle going down in flames, simple past went down in flames, past participle gone down in flames)
- (idiomatic) To fail miserably and with long-term consequences.