Meaning
"Go Down In Flames"는 무언가가 실패하거나 끝날 때, 특히 그 과정이 매우 극적이고 화려할 때 사용되는 표현입니다. 이 표현은 마치 불길 속에서 타오르며 추락하는 모습처럼, 매우 인상적이지만 안타까운 실패를 뜻합니다.
예를 들어, 스포츠 경기에서 팀이 큰 점수 차로 지는 경우나, 사업이 갑자기 큰 손실을 입고 문을 닫는 경우에 "The project went down in flames"와 같이 말할 수 있습니다. 이때 'flames'는 그 과정이 단순히 실패로 끝나는 것이 아니라, 사람들의 주목을 끌 정도로 극적이었다는 것을 강조합니다.
"Go Down In Flames"는 주로 부정적인 상황에서 사용되지만, 그 과정이 강렬하고 눈에 띄었다는 점에서 때로는 긍정적인 의미로 해석되기도 합니다. 이 표현은 상황의 극적인 전개를 전달하고 싶을 때 유용하게 쓸 수 있습니다.
Example
The Olympic Committee went down in flames when an inside member of the organization exposed corruption and bribery.
The company went down in flames after the CEO was caught with fraud. He has since resigned his position at the company.
Relationships within the family went down in flames when all efforts for an intervention failed.
This emergency operation will go down in flames unless our safety objectives are secure.
Quiz
What is an Idiom
An idiom is a phrase or expression that usually presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase. Idioms are not just used in conversations – they're also very common in literature, movies, and music. We utilize them to convey a message in a concise and effective manner, and often have deep cultural or historical significance. They help to create a vivid and memorable image in the minds of the audience.
Idioms are difficult because they do not mean what they literally state. Communication challenges emerge when you translate an idiom in your language; it will not make sense or if it does make sense you may miss the intended meaning.
How to Study Idioms
- Read them. Read books, newspapers, magazine articles, online articles for exposure in written material.
- Watch them. Watch TV shows and movies in English! There are so many streaming services available for you to choose from. Listen attentively and try to understand the context in which they are used.
- Use them. Talk to native speakers and try to incorporate common idioms into your conversations. Try using them during conversations with friends, family, coworkers, or through text.
- Practice. Practice. Practice. Remember that you can't learn all of them! So start with a few that you understand and build your library of idioms from there!
