You're staring at the grid. The ink is drying, or the digital cursor is blinking rhythmically, mocking you. The clue says went up in smoke crossword and you have five letters. Or maybe six. Or maybe eight. It’s one of those phrases that feels so literal in your brain—you’re thinking of fire, soot, and chimneys—but the constructor is almost certainly playing a different game.
Crossword puzzles are basically legalised gaslighting.
Honestly, the phrase "went up in smoke" is a classic "cryptic-lite" staple because it has two very distinct meanings in the English language. It can mean something physically burned to a crisp, or it can mean a plan just... evaporated. Total failure. Zilch. If you're stuck on a New York Times Sunday puzzle or a quick LA Times weekday grid, the answer usually hinges on which of those two paths the creator took.
The Most Common Answers for Went Up In Smoke
When you see this clue, the first thing you should do is check the letter count. If it's a short one, the answer is almost always BURNT. It’s the most literal interpretation. If you’re looking at five letters and the tense is past tense (which it is, because of the word "went"), BURNT or BURNED are your primary suspects.
But it’s rarely that simple, is it?
Usually, the constructor wants to mess with your head. They’re looking for FAILED. Or maybe ENDED. If the clue is part of a theme about disappointment or lost dreams, you’re likely looking for VANISHED.
I’ve seen EVAPORATED used in larger grids, though that’s a bit of a stretch for some purists. The nuance here is that "smoke" implies a lack of substance. It was there, and then it wasn't. That’s why FADED or DIED occasionally pop up in the smaller corner pockets of a Monday or Tuesday puzzle where the difficulty is lower.
Why "FAILED" is the Tricky Favorite
If you’re working on a puzzle by someone like Will Shortz or a veteran like Brendan Emmett Quigley, they love the metaphorical. To them, a business venture that "went up in smoke" didn't involve a literal fire. It just went bust.
Look for these variations:
- FIZZLED (Seven letters, very common for mid-week puzzles)
- FLOPPED (Seven letters)
- BUSTED (Six letters)
It’s about the "poof" factor. One minute the IPO is worth billions; the next, it’s gone. That’s the "smoke" part. If you have a "D" at the end of your blank spaces, start testing these out immediately.
Understanding the Constructor's Intent
You have to think about who wrote the puzzle. Crossword construction isn't just about filling a grid; it's about a specific kind of linguistic trickery. A clue like went up in smoke crossword is what we call an "ambiguous definition."
Constructors use these because they fit into almost any grid. If they need a word ending in "D," they can use "BURNED." If they need a word ending in "T," they use "BURNT." It’s a filler clue, but for the solver, it’s a pivot point. If you get it wrong, the entire corner of the puzzle collapses.
I remember a specific NYT puzzle from a few years back where the answer was ASHES. Now, strictly speaking, "went up in smoke" usually implies a verb. But sometimes, the clue is phrased in a way that refers to the result. If the clue had a question mark at the end—Went up in smoke?—then all bets are off. The question mark is the international symbol for "I'm lying to you." It means the answer is a pun or a lateral leap. In that case, the answer might be CIGAR or INCENSE.
The Literal Fire Route
Sometimes, the clue is exactly what it looks like. No tricks.
If you're looking at a 4-letter word, try FIRE.
Wait, that's not past tense.
Try ALIT.
Wait, that's more about landing.
The reality is that for 4 letters, you're often looking at USED, as in "used up." It's less common, but it happens.
If you have a massive 10-letter gap, you might be looking at COMBUSTED. It’s clunky. It’s rare. But in a Saturday puzzle where the constructor is trying to be a bit "extra," it’s a definite possibility.
Specific Examples from Famous Grids
Let's look at the data. If you browse through the archives of the Wall Street Journal or the Universal Crossword, certain patterns emerge for the "went up in smoke" clue.
- TOAST: This is a great one. If something is "toast," it's gone. It went up in smoke. It's a five-letter powerhouse.
- LOST: Simple, elegant, devastating.
- RUINED: A six-letter classic for "went up in smoke."
Kinda makes you realize how many words we have for failure, doesn't it?
There was a notable LA Times puzzle where the answer was VAPORIZED. That’s a 9-letter beast. It appeared in a late-week slot (Friday or Saturday) when the solver is expected to handle more complex vocabulary. If you’re hitting a wall, count your letters again. Sometimes we miscount the boxes when we're frustrated. It happens to everyone.
The "Cigar" Problem
If the puzzle is particularly cheeky, "went up in smoke" might refer to the person or thing doing the smoking.
- STOGIE
- REEFER (rare, but it happens in "edgier" indie puzzles)
- PALLMALL (if they're going for a brand name)
Usually, though, the "went" part of the clue forces the answer to be a verb or a state of being.
How to Solve it When You're Stuck
First, stop guessing the whole word. Look at the crossing clues. If you can get the second and fourth letters, the "went up in smoke" mystery usually solves itself.
If the second letter is an "A" and the fourth is an "S," you're almost certainly looking at VANISHED.
If the second letter is "U" and the last is "T," it’s likely BURNT.
Crosswords are a game of intersections. Don't treat the clue like a riddle in a vacuum. It’s a coordinate on a map.
Also, consider the "theme" of the puzzle. If the title of the crossword is something like "Burn Notice" or "Up in Flames," then the answer is definitely going to be fire-related. If the theme is "Business Failures" or "Gone Fishin'," it’s going to be the metaphorical version.
Does the Tense Match?
This is the rookie mistake. "Went" is past tense. Your answer must be past tense.
If you’re thinking "burn," stop. It has to be "burned" or "burnt."
If you’re thinking "fail," it has to be "failed."
If the answer doesn't end in -ED, -T, or -EN, you’re likely looking at an irregular verb or a noun-based pun.
Common Misconceptions About This Clue
A lot of people think that "went up in smoke" has to mean a disaster. Not always. Sometimes, in a very clever grid, it could refer to PRAYERS. In ancient contexts or religious-themed puzzles, incense or offerings "went up in smoke" as a way of reaching a deity.
If you see a 7-letter space and the clue is "Went up in smoke," and none of the "failure" words work, try OFFERED. It’s a deep cut, but it’s the kind of thing that makes crossword nerds feel smug.
Another one? SIGNAL. Smoke signals. It "went up in smoke." This is a classic lateral thinking move. If the puzzle is from a source known for being "punny," always look for the literal object that is smoke.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Puzzle
- Verify the Tense Immediately: "Went" is your biggest hint. The answer is almost certainly past tense.
- Count the Boxes, then Re-count: Five letters is usually BURNT or TOAST. Six is BURNED or BUSTED. Seven is FIZZLED or FLOPPED.
- Check for a Question Mark: If there’s a "?", throw away the "failure" definition and start thinking about cigars, chimneys, incense, and signals.
- Use Cross-references: Don't waste time staring at the clue. Move to the "Down" clues that intersect it. Getting a single vowel can eliminate 80% of the possibilities.
- Consider the Publication: The New York Times loves metaphors. The Washington Post likes smart, punchy verbs. Your local paper likely uses the most literal version (BURNT).
Next time you see went up in smoke crossword in your daily grid, don't let it frustrate you. Take a breath. Look at the length. Check the intersections. Most likely, it’s just a simple five-letter way of saying something didn't go quite as planned—much like my last attempt at a Sunday cryptic.