go down in smoke—(also: go down in flames) fail or end suddenly; come to nothing:
- This whole program went down in smoke after the protests started.
go up in smoke—(also: go up in flames)
1. be destroyed by fire:
- After his house went up in smoke, insurance and fire officials suddenly realized he was involved in a whole string of arsons.
2. = go down in smoke:
- His hopes went up in smoke as his car’s engine caught fire and arch enemy and team-mate at the time, Jason Plato, became champion.
3. (coll.) lose one’s temper:
- The highbrows in those parts all go up in smoke if you confess to liking those native artists.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase go into smoke—(sl.) go into hiding:
- The delegate returned anonymously, slipped ashore and “went into smoke” like some famous criminal.