crash and burn

phrase

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Metro Atlantan Ann Marie Allison in her early ‘20s had a whirlwind romance crash and burn with a man who proposed to her just four months into the relationship. Rodney Ho, AJC.com, 29 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crash and burn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crash%20and%20burn. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!