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REFERENCE

end in smoke

idiom
Meaning

To be destroyed or ruined; to go up in smoke.


Examples
SIMPLE

His big plans for the summer ended in smoke.

CONTEXTUAL

After the investor pulled out at the last minute, all our dreams for the new business ended in smoke.

COMPLEX

Despite years of meticulous preparation and significant financial investment, the ambitious project ultimately ended in smoke when the primary technology failed during the final demonstration.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    arse end of nowhere

    A very remote place.

  2. 02

    big end of town

    The top end of town.

  3. 03

    bitter end

    The end of a long and difficult process.

  4. 04

    business end

    The part of an object (chiefly a tool or weapon) that is physically used for its operation, rather than some other part such as the part by which it is held.

  5. 05

    come to a sticky end

    To die unpleasantly due to one's actions.

  6. 06

    come to an end

    To stop; to cease; to no longer continue.

  7. 07

    dead end

    A street or path or tunnel that goes nowhere or is blocked on one end.

  8. 08

    end in tears

    To end badly.

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