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Glite Dictionary
✈️ Engine failure 💥 Sudden failure
flame-out

flame-out

7.9
A sudden, complete failure after a period of success
  • noun
  • /fleɪm aʊt/
  • Literature
translation icon : fracaso estrepitoso
  • After a series of successful launches, the company's latest project ended in a dramatic flame-out that surprised everyone involved.

It leaves you feeling confused as to what happened, hence the name the flame out or the shooting star where it burns real hot and then fades away.

Examples

  • He experienced a flame-out in his career when his once-popular show was suddenly canceled after a few seasons.

  • The athlete's promising season took a downturn, culminating in a flame-out at the championship game.

  • It leaves you feeling confused as to what happened, hence the name the flame out or the shooting star where it burns real hot and then fades away.

    Mat Boggs

Synonyms

flop
vsflame-out
44 4.3

A project or event that does not succeed

is a sudden complete collapse that happens after a period of success
fizzle
vsflame-out
  • Informal
3 6.0

A failure that comes after a promising start

is a sudden complete collapse rather than a slow loss of momentum

Antonyms

success
∞ 1.0

Getting what you want after working hard

continuation
56 3.6

An act of something keeping going without stopping

How Severe

collapse
350 4.1
flame-out
  • Literature
7.9
failure
557 1.3
setback
148 3.6
problem
∞ 1.2

Surface Forms

flame-out singular
flame-outs plural

Morphology

flame-out = flame + out (semi-transparent) = flame + out

This sense is a metaphorical extension of the literal engine failure sense, so the relation to the parts is figurative rather than strictly literal.

Etymology

Flame-out comes from the picture of a bright flame that suddenly 'goes out'. That's why we use flame-out for a sudden, complete failure after a period of success, like a strong fire that 'stops burning' quickly.