Example
“Months of negotiations went up in smoke when the main investor withdrew.”
Dictionary details
Related idioms
Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.
no smoke without fire
CEFR B2rumors or accusations usually contain at least some truth
smoke test
CEFR B2a quick, shallow test that checks whether a system's most basic functions work at all
kiss of death
CEFR B2something that seems helpful but instead causes eventual failure or ruin
pie in the sky
CEFR B2an attractive ambition with almost no realistic prospect of being achieved
can of worms
CEFR B1a complicated problem that causes trouble the moment it is touched
domino effect
CEFR B1a chain reaction in which one event triggers a series of similar events
Source methodology
Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.