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.
But a big cooler is one guest that can really crash and burn the party – a hard, bulky nuisance that's uncomfortable on or near the bed and unsecure outside the vehicle. — New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026 Nick Saban did a similar U-turn, going back to LSU as the Alabama head coach after a crash and burn in the NFL. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026 Why would Chinese companies invest so much money and time into creating robots that perform such athletic feats (and crash and burn afterwards)? — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026 That’s because, despite your best attempts, some things are destined to crash and burn. — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for crash and burn

Browse Nearby Words

crash
crash and burn
crash barrier
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Cite this Entry

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

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