go up in flames

verb

To catch fire.

Similar
go up in smokecatch firecatch on firecombustconflagratefireignitelight
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Meanings

verbgo up in flames (third-person singular simple present goes up in flames, present participle going up in flames, simple past went up in flames, past participle gone up in flames)

present singular third person goes up in flames · participle present going up in flames · past went up in flames · participle past gone up in flames

  1. idiomaticliteralTo catch fire.

    Synonyms: go up in smoke, catch fire, catch on fire, combust, conflagrate, fire, go up in smoke, ignite

  2. figurativelyidiomaticTo be cancelled or ruined without any hope of return.

    This world / Is going up in flames / And nobody / Wanna take the blame

    2007, “The World (Is Going Up in Flames)”, performed by Charles Bradley ft. Menahan Street Band

    Synonyms: burn down, burn up, come to nothing, end in smoke, go up in smoke

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo catch fire.

Similar
go up in smokecatch firecatch on firecombustconflagratefirego up in smokeignitelightspunktake fire

verbTo be cancelled or ruined without any hope of return.

Similar
burn downburn upcome to nothingend in smokego up in smoke
Also see
burn upcatch firecombustconflagratecrash and burnfailfirego up in smokeignitelightspunktake fire
Cite this entry
APA

go up in flames. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/go%20up%20in%20flames

MLA

“go up in flames.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/go%20up%20in%20flames. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “go up in flames,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/go%20up%20in%20flames.

Source: go up in flames on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.