go up in flames
to burn or be destroyed by fire:
The factory went up in flames.

[TahlilGaran] Advanced Learner's Dictionary ▲

go up in flames
to fail or come to an end suddenly and completely.
Final hopes of a pay settlement went up in flames yesterday after talks broke down.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

go up in flames
• go up in flames/smoke
to burn or be destroyed by fire, to fail, to not come true (dreams)
The waiter's plans to open a new restaurant went up in smoke after he lost his job.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

go up in flames
{v. phr.} To burn; be destroyed by fire.
1.
The house went up in flames.

The barn full of hay went up in smoke.

2. Disappear; fail; not come true.
Jane's hopes of going to college went up in smoke when her father lost his job.

The team's chances to win went up in smoke when their captain was hurt.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲