Wiktionary
vb. 1 To catch fire and burn 2 (context idiomatic English) (by extension) To be completely ruined
Usage examples of "go up in smoke".
It was always sad to see history go up in smoke, and the two-story Greek Revival frame building had been one of Naperville, Illinois’.
Eve watched her fantasy involving a whirlpool, a glass of wine, and a fat slab of steak go up in smoke.
It was always sad to see history go up in smoke, and the two-story Greek Revival frame building had been one of Naperville, Illinois', prides since 1834.
No matter how good the news or how high the Gong body count, there always seemed to be at least one picture of agonized US soldiers after an ambush or crying Vietnamese children watching their village go up in smoke.
With difficulty Miles had persuaded him that seven years of painfully careful subterfuge would go up in smoke if Admiral Naismith was ever seen getting out of a Barrayaran official vehicle.
I have no right to ask, but if you won't, then it might as well go up in smoke like the rest of my honor.
And we'd better get there pretty quick, or my new girlfriend is going to go up in smoke like that little prick.
Tai-Tiang was quite aware that he was about to let another billion of his precious national treasury go up in smoke by shooting at this mysterious obstacle.
More green wood had been cut than would go up in smoke in a squatter's stove.