crash and burn
idiom
US, informal
: to fail completely
The company crashed and burned after only two years in business.
Examples of crash and burn in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Wednesday marked the end of the Rick Hahn rebuild that looked so promising in 2021, only to crash and burn by the summer of ’22.
—
Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
But the game rewards savvy teams that make smart decisions and develop players well, which is why teams like the Rays can hold their own year-in and year-out, and why big money teams like last season’s Mets sometimes crash and burn.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 18 Jan. 2026
This time around, they’re seemingly equipped with the depth to at least avoid such a tremendous crash and burn.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
Win hearts, stir drama, charm the nation—or crash and burn while trying.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crash and burn
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Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
But the game rewards savvy teams that make smart decisions and develop players well, which is why teams like the Rays can hold their own year-in and year-out, and why big money teams like last season’s Mets sometimes crash and burn.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 18 Jan. 2026
This time around, they’re seemingly equipped with the depth to at least avoid such a tremendous crash and burn.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
Win hearts, stir drama, charm the nation—or crash and burn while trying.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crash and burn
Cite this Entry
“Crash and burn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crash%20and%20burn. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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