Flame 是火焰，in flames 表示在燃烧，go down in flames 字面意思是燃烧着下坠，这个说法原本是形容飞机在火焰中坠毁的场面， 后来被用做来表示事情彻底毁了、毁于一旦。

【例句】
The football player's career went down in flames after the media learned he'd been losing on purpose to settle gambling debts.
这名足球运动员的职业生涯在媒体得知他故意输掉赌债后毁于一旦。

It’s those who are not afraid of going down in flames who eventually succeed.
不怕失败的人最终才能获得成功。