andare in fumo

Literally, “to go in smoke”.

andàre in fumo (first-person singular present vàdo in fumo, first-person singular past historic andài in fumo, past participle andàto in fumo, first-person singular future andrò in fumo, first-person singular subjunctive vàda in fumo, second-person singular imperative vài in fumo or và' in fumo, auxiliary èssere)

1. (intransitive, idiomatic) to go up in smoke
   • 2020, Barack Obama, chapter 10, in Chicca Galli, Paolo Lucca, Giuseppe Maugeri, transl., Una terra promessa [A Promised Land], Garzanti Libri:

     Il rapporto sull'occupazione relativo al mese di ottobre, emesso tre giorni dopo le elezioni, era deprimente: 240.000 posti di lavoro erano andati in fumo (analisi successive avrebbero rivelato che il numero corretto era 481.000).

     The October jobs report, released three days after the election, was dismal: 240,000 jobs lost (revisions would later reveal that the true number was 481,000).

     (literally, “The October employment report, issued three days after the election, was depressing: 240,000 jobs had gone up in smoke (subsequent analyses would have revealed that the correct number was 481,000).”)