Translation guide
Describes plans, hopes, or physical objects being destroyed by fire or failing completely.
Express that a plan, dream, or expectation has been ruined or come to nothing.
Literally 'become bubbles on water', meaning efforts or plans come to nothing. Very common and natural.
Describe something being destroyed by fire, often quickly.
水の泡になる is the most standard and widely understood. パーになる is casual and often used for wasted effort or money. おじゃんになる is colloquial and slightly dated, but still common in speech.
My efforts went up in smoke.
His dreams went up in smoke.
Casual expression meaning something becomes useless or a waste. Often used for plans or money.
Our carefully made plans went up in smoke.
Colloquial, slightly old-fashioned. Means a plan or event is ruined or cancelled.
The picnic went up in smoke because of the rain.
Means something is spoiled or ruined. Can be used for plans, events, or efforts.
Everything went up in smoke because of a mistake.
Intransitive verb meaning to burn out or be completely consumed by fire.
The house went up in smoke.
Formal term for being destroyed by fire, often used in news reports.
The warehouse went up in smoke.
Literally 'become ash', emphasizing complete destruction by fire.
All the documents went up in smoke.
貯金がパーになった。
My savings went up in smoke.
The trip went up in smoke.