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Go Down in Flames

What Does "Go Down in Flames" Mean?

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"Go down in flames" is an English idiom. It means "to fail or be defeated spectacularly or disastrously."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "go down in flames" used in a sentence:
  • Their ambitious project went down in flames due to a lack of funding and support.
  • The sports team went down in flames in the championship game, losing by a large margin.
  • They feared that their startup might go down in flames if they didn't secure additional investors.
meaning for go down in flames

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Go Down in Flames" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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