Definition of “go up in smoke”

But don't stand too close to the stove when you put them on or you'll go up in smoke.

Drink up your sherry and we'll go watch that effigy Britishers burn on bonfire night go up in smoke.

He does not want all his meticulous preparation to go up in smoke when they visit Hillsborough on Saturday.

Here's hoping that the new anti-smoking legislation does not go up in smoke.

Instead of planning new ventures, Dalmia's priority today must be to ensure that his existing businesses don't go up in smoke.

Popular myths of bulk burnings and reusing coffins go up in smoke.

They mistakenly believe that by burning a building their problems will go up in smoke too.

Well, one of these days he'll be getting a bomb, then we'll all go up in smoke and that'll be that.

William, of Almagill, near Dalton in Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire, witnessed 30 years of graft go up in smoke.