形容人气势很高，到了目空一切的地步towering momentum and vigour; sparks of one's qi reach the heavens

• 在这样的现实困境下，他们抱着“有权不使，过期作废”的想法气焰熏天也就不足为奇了。

  In this really difficult situation, it is not surprising that they hold their idea of "holding rights but not exercising them, discarding what is out of date" with such vigour.