to end in smoke

1 definition found

to end in smoke - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Smoke \Smoke\ (sm[=o]k), n. [AS. smoca, fr. sme['o]can to smoke;
     akin to LG. & D. smook smoke, Dan. sm["o]g, G. schmauch, and
     perh. to Gr. ??? to burn in a smoldering fire; cf. Lith.
     smaugti to choke.]
     1. The visible exhalation, vapor, or substance that escapes,
        or expelled, from a burning body, especially from burning
        vegetable matter, as wood, coal, peat, or the like.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The gases of hydrocarbons, raised to a red heat or
           thereabouts, without a mixture of air enough to produce
           combustion, disengage their carbon in a fine powder,
           forming smoke. The disengaged carbon when deposited on
           solid bodies is soot.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. That which resembles smoke; a vapor; a mist.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Anything unsubstantial, as idle talk. --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. The act of smoking, esp. of smoking tobacco; as, to have a
        smoke. [Colloq.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Smoke is sometimes joined with other word. forming
           self-explaining compounds; as, smoke-consuming,
           smoke-dried, smoke-stained, etc.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     Smoke arch, the smoke box of a locomotive.
  
     Smoke ball (Mil.), a ball or case containing a composition
        which, when it burns, sends forth thick smoke.
  
     Smoke black, lampblack. [Obs.]
  
     Smoke board, a board suspended before a fireplace to
        prevent the smoke from coming out into the room.
  
     Smoke box, a chamber in a boiler, where the smoke, etc.,
        from the furnace is collected before going out at the
        chimney.
  
     Smoke sail (Naut.), a small sail in the lee of the galley
        stovepipe, to prevent the smoke from annoying people on
        deck.
  
     Smoke tree (Bot.), a shrub (Rhus Cotinus) in which the
        flowers are mostly abortive and the panicles transformed
        into tangles of plumose pedicels looking like wreaths of
        smoke.
  
     To end in smoke, to burned; hence, to be destroyed or
        ruined; figuratively, to come to nothing.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Syn: Fume; reek; vapor.
          [1913 Webster]