‘Go Down In Flames’, Meaning & Context

The idiom “go down in flames” means to fail spectacularly, usually in a humiliating or embarrassing way. It can be used to describe a person, a project, or a company. For example, you might say that a politician’s campaign went down in flames after they made a series of gaffes, or that a new product went down in flames after it was recalled due to safety concerns.

Origin of “Go Down in Flames”

The idiom “go down in flames” is thought to have originated in the early 20th century, during the First World War. At the time, airplanes were made of wood and canvas, and they were easily flammable. When an airplane was shot down, it would often catch fire and plummet to the ground in a fiery ball.

The idiom “go down in flames” quickly spread beyond the military world, and it is now commonly used in a variety of contexts. It is often used to describe failures that are particularly public or humiliating. For example, you might say that a celebrity’s career went down in flames after they were arrested for a crime, or that a sports team went down in flames in the playoffs.

History of the Idiom “Go Down in Flames”

Here are some examples of how the idiom “go down in flames” was used in the early 20th century:

• In a 1918 article in the New York Times, a reporter described a German airplane that was shot down and “went down in flames.”
• In a 1920 novel by John Dos Passos, a character describes a pilot who was shot down and “went down in flames.”
• In a 1925 song by Irving Berlin, a singer describes a love affair that “went down in flames.”

The idiom “go down in flames” became even more popular in the mid-20th century, during World War II. At this time, airplanes were made of metal, but they were still vulnerable to being shot down and catching fire. As a result, the idiom “go down in flames” was often used to describe the fate of downed airplanes.

Here are some examples of how the idiom “go down in flames” was used in the mid-20th century:

• In a 1943 newsreel, a narrator describes a Japanese bomber that was shot down and “went down in flames.”
• In a 1944 novel by Kurt Vonnegut, a character describes a plane crash in which he was involved, saying that the plane “went down in flames.”
• In a 1945 film, a character describes a German fighter plane that was shot down and “went down in flames.”

Since World War II, the idiom “go down in flames” has continued to be used in a variety of contexts to describe failures that are particularly public or humiliating. It is a powerful idiom that evokes images of destruction and defeat.

Go down in flames

Using “Go Down in Flames”

The idiom “go down in flames” can be used in a variety of ways. Here are some examples:

• The new movie “Summer Blockbuster” went down in flames at the box office.
• The politician’s campaign went down in flames after he was caught on camera making racist remarks.
• The company’s stock price went down in flames after it announced that it was filing for bankruptcy.
• The chef’s soufflé went down in flames when he accidentally opened the oven door too early.
• The student’s presentation went down in flames when he forgot his lines.
• The team’s chances of winning the championship went down in flames when their star player was injured.

Synonyms for “Go Down in Flames”

• implode
• crash and burn
• fail miserably
• go bust
• go kaput
• tank
• fizzle out
• fall apart
• unravel
• come to grief
• meet its doom
• be doomed
• succeed

Antonyms for “Go Down in Flames”

• thrive
• flourish
• prosper
• excel
• triumph
• achieve
• accomplish
• win
• prevail
• succeed beyond expectations