взлетать на воздух

• ВЗЛЕТАТЬ/ВЗЛЕТЕТЬ НА ВОЗДУХ

[VP; usu. pfv; fixed WO]

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1. Also: ВЗЛЕТАТЬ/ВЗЛЕТЕТЬ В ВОЗДУХ [subj: concr or, less often, animal or human]

⇒ to explode or be destroyed in an explosion:

- X взлетел на воздух{{}}≈ X was blown to bits (to pieces, to smithereens);

- X was blown up (blown sky-high);

- thing X blew up.

     ♦ Предвидя конечную гибель, она решилась умереть геройскою смертью и, собрав награбленные в казне деньги, в виду всех взлетела на воздух вместе с казначеем и бухгалтером (Салтыков-Щедрин 1). [context transl] Foreseeing ultimate ruin, she resolved to die an heroic death. Gathering up the money she had garnered from the treasury, in full view of everyone she blew herself up together with the treasurer and bookkeeper (1a).

2. [subj: abstr]

⇒ (of plans, hopes, dreams) to fall through, end in nothing:

- X взлетел на воздух{{}}≈ X went up in smoke;

- X was blown to smithereens.