go up in smoke
US /ɡoʊ ʌp ɪn smoʊk/
UK /ɡoʊ ʌp ɪn smoʊk/
1.
to come to nothing; to fail completely
:
•
All their hard work went up in smoke when the project was canceled.
•
His dreams of becoming a professional athlete went up in smoke after the injury.