wrack and ruin

English

Alternative forms
  • wracke and ruine (obsolete)

Etymology

1577, as wracke and ruine, influenced by earlier go to wrecke (1548).[1][2]

Pronunciation
  • Audio (AU)(file)

Noun

wrack and ruin (uncountable)

  1. (idiomatic) Complete destruction.
    • 1577, Henry Bull, Commentarie upon the fiftene psalmes (by Martin Luther, translation):
      Whiles all things seeme to fall to wracke and ruine.[1]

Derived terms

References
  1. Gary Martin, “Rack and ruin”, The Phrase Finder
  2. 1548, Ephraim Udall, sermon: “The flocke goeth to wrecke and vtterly perisheth.”
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