Definition

1. Noun:
   • A complete or conspicuous failure: A "flame-out" refers to a sudden, dramatic, and total collapse or failure, often of a project, career, or enterprise.
   • The failure of a jet engine: In aviation, a "flame-out" is the sudden extinguishing of the flame in a jet engine, typically caused by an interruption in fuel supply or faulty combustion, leading to a loss of thrust.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Complete Failure):
  • The tech startup's rapid flame-out left investors with significant losses.
  • After his controversial statement, the politician's career experienced a public flame-out.
• Noun (Jet Engine Failure):
  • The pilots successfully restarted the engine after a high-altitude flame-out.
  • Investigators determined that ice ingestion caused the flame-out in engine number two.

Advanced Usage

• Metaphorical Use: The term is often used metaphorically outside of aviation to describe any sudden and disastrous end.
  • The band's third album was such a flame-out that they broke up shortly after its release.
• Verb Form (To Flame Out): While the primary entry is a noun, the phrasal verb "to flame out" is commonly used, meaning to fail spectacularly or to burn out.
  • Many child stars flame out before reaching adulthood.

Variants and Related Words

• Flameout (noun): An alternative spelling, often written as one word.
• Flame (verb/noun): The root word, referring to fire or burning.
• Burnout (noun): A state of physical or emotional exhaustion, often from prolonged stress. (Note: This is related but distinct from the sudden failure implied by "flame-out").

Synonyms

• Collapse: A sudden failure or breakdown.
• Fiasco: A complete and ridiculous failure.
• Debacle: A sudden and disastrous collapse.
• Engine failure (for the aviation-specific meaning).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• To flame out: To fail suddenly and dramatically.
  • The company flamed out after just two years in business.

Related Idioms

• To crash and burn: To fail completely and in a dramatic fashion. This idiom is a close synonym for the metaphorical use of "flame-out."
  • His latest business venture crashed and burned just like the others.

Noun

1. a complete or conspicuous failure
   • the spectacular flame-out of the company's stock cost many people their life savings
2. the failure of a jet engine caused by an interruption of the fuel supply or by faulty combustion