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in ruins

idiom

Definition of in ruins

: destroyed with some pieces or parts remaining
  • The building was/lay in ruins.
—sometimes used figuratively
  • After her death, the family was in ruins.

Word by Word Definitions

ruin play ruins

  1. : a falling down : collapse

  2. : physical, moral, economic, or social collapse

  3. : the state of being ruined

  1. : to reduce to ruins : devastate

  2. : to damage irreparably

  3. : bankrupt, impoverish

See the full definition of ruin

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