The phrase "goes up in smoke" refers to a situation where something, such as a plan, a hope, or an expectation, unexpectedly fails or ends in disappointment, having no positive outcome or result. This idiom draws upon the image of a fire or a substance gradually burning and turning into smoke until it dissipates completely, with no trace remaining.
The phrase is often used metaphorically to describe the unexpected collapse or failure of something that was anticipated or valued. It implies that all efforts, investments, or expectations related to the specific matter have been in vain and eventually vanish like smoke. This can refer to a wide range of scenarios, including failed business ventures, disappointed aspirations, broken promises, or unrealized dreams.
The expression carries a sense of loss and disappointment, suggesting that whatever was anticipated or hoped for is now lost forever. It conveys the idea that the result or outcome is not just unsatisfactory but has completely dissipated, leaving nothing behind. Furthermore, "goes up in smoke" can also imply the lack of control or unpredictability in the situation, as fires or substances burning tend to consume everything rapidly and abruptly.
Overall, "goes up in smoke" is a vivid idiomatic expression that conveys the sudden and complete failure or disappointment of a plan, dream, or expectation, as if it has vanished into thin air, leaving no remnants or chance of revival.
