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flame out

C1 informal intransitive
In simple words

To fail suddenly and spectacularly after things seemed to be going well.

Literal meaning: A flame going out — but with the connotation of a dramatic extinction rather than a quiet one.

Meanings

1 C1 idiomatic informal

(Of a person, career, or enterprise) to fail suddenly and dramatically, often after early promise.

"The young actor flamed out after two hit films, unable to handle the pressure of fame."

2 C1 formal

(Aviation) For a jet engine to stop functioning due to combustion failure.

"The pilot declared an emergency after both engines flamed out over the ocean."

Usage notes

In aviation, 'flame-out' (also spelled 'flameout' as a noun) is a technical term for a jet engine failure. Figuratively, it describes a person or enterprise that fails spectacularly, especially after early success. More common in American English and journalistic writing.

Commonly used with

career startup engine campaign talent promising

Forms

Base
flame out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
flames out
he/she/it
Past simple
flamed out
yesterday
Past participle
flamed out
have + pp
-ing form
flaming out
continuous

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Synonyms

burn out crash and burn collapse fail spectacularly self-destruct

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