ruin1 verbruin2 noun
ruinru‧in1 /ˈruːɪn/ ●●○ S3 verb [transitive] 
VERB TABLE
ruin
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | ruin |
| he, she, it | ruins | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | ruined |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have ruined |
| he, she, it | has ruined | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had ruined |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will ruin |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have ruined |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am ruining |
| he, she, it | is ruining | |
| you, we, they | are ruining | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was ruining |
| you, we, they | were ruining | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been ruining |
| he, she, it | has been ruining | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been ruining |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be ruining |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been ruining |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A long strike would ruin the company.
- Alcohol and drugs almost ruined his career.
- Don't use harsh soap to wash your face. It will ruin your skin.
- How can you prevent stomach upsets from ruining your holiday?
- John and Sandy argued all the time, which completely ruined the evening for the rest of us.
- Many firms have been ruined by hasty decisions.
- Patty's ex-boyfriend is ruining our relationship.
- Phelps's mistake has ruined her chances of winning the championship.
- Protestors say that the proposed new airport will ruin this peaceful area.
- Serious in-fighting ruined the Conservatives' chances of winning the election.
- She is still angry with the suppliers, who she says ruined her by failing to deliver on time.
- Surely you don't want to ruin all our good work, do you?
- The incident has all but ruined her financially.
- The rain had ruined her best velvet skirt.
- The Zimmerman's house was ruined by the flood.
- And if you are ruined, Mr Dollington, it will be by your own hand.
- But this would have ruined the entire tax system.
- I've seen a lot of good coppers ruined that way.
- I thought my career, my friendships and my whole life was ruined.
- In college he loved a young girl of a lower class and ruined her; she died a suicide.
- She almost hated them for ruining her life.
- The only thing that ruined the game for me was the time it took to load each room.
THESAURUS
to damage something so badly that it no longer exists or cannot be used or repaired: · The earthquake almost completely destroyed the city.· The twin towers were destroyed in a terrorist attack.
to damage a large area very badly and destroy many things in it: · Allied bombings in 1943 devastated the city.· The country’s economy has been devastated by years of fighting.
to completely destroy a building, either deliberately or by accident: · The original 15th century house was demolished in Victorian times.· The plane crashed into a suburb of Paris, demolishing several buildings.
to destroy a building or town by knocking it down, bombing it etc, so that nothing is left standing: · The town centre was flattened by a 500 lb bomb.
to deliberately damage something very badly, especially a room or building: · The toilets had been wrecked by vandals.· They just wrecked the place.
informal to deliberately destroy a lot of the things in a room, house etc: · Apparently, he trashed his hotel room while on drugs.
formal to destroy a place so completely that nothing remains: · The nuclear blast obliterated most of Hiroshima.
to destroy a building or town completely: · The town was reduced to rubble in the First World War.
to spoil something completely, so that it cannot be used or enjoyed: · Fungus may ruin the crop.· The new houses will ruin the view.
to have a bad effect on something so that it is much less attractive, enjoyable etc: · New housing developments are spoiling the countryside.· The bad weather completely spoiled our holiday.
to spoil something completely and permanently: · Using harsh soap to wash your face can ruin your skin.· The argument ruined the evening for me.
written to spoil something by making it less attractive or enjoyable: · His handsome Arab features were marred by a long scar across his face.· Outbreaks of fighting marred the New Year celebrations.
to slightly spoil something that is generally very good, beautiful, or impressive: · The huge number of tourists rather detracts from the city’s appeal.· There were a few minor irritations, but this did not detract from our enjoyment of the holiday.
to spoil something that you have been trying to achieve: · The bombings undermined several months of careful negotiations.
to spoil a friendly relationship between people or countries: · The affair has soured relations between the UK and Russia.
to spoil a close relationship completely, so that people can no longer trust each other: · Their marriage was poisoned by a terrible dark secret.
informal to spoil something important or something that has been carefully planned: · If there’s any delay, it will mess up our whole schedule.
Longman Language Activatorto destroy someone's relationships, hopes, happiness etc to destroy someone's relationships, hopes, happiness etc: · Even close relationships can be destroyed by alcoholism.· Few things destroy trust more than telling a friend's secrets.· Chandler worried that the scandal would destroy his chances for a respectable career.
to completely destroy someone's relationships, hopes, chances etc, especially by doing or saying something without thinking of the likely results: · Ron's affair wrecked our marriage.· His confrontational speech has wrecked any chances of a peace settlement.
to destroy someone's determination although they have tried hard to keep it: · Years in prison did not break Mr Mandela's spirit.· Her captors used violence and psychological torture to try to break her will.
to completely spoil or destroy someone's chances, hopes, relationship etc: · Phelps's mistake has ruined her chances of winning the championship.· Patty's ex-boyfriend is ruining our relationship.
when a person or company has no money a company or person that is bankrupt does not have enough money to pay their debts, and so they have to stop doing business: · Five years ago she was a successful actress, but now she is bankrupt.· He lent him several thousand dollars to help rescue his bankrupt textile business.go bankrupt (=become bankrupt): · Many small businesses will go bankrupt unless interest rates fall.declare somebody bankrupt (=say officially that they are bankrupt): · He was declared bankrupt in the High Court yesterday.
a company or business person that is insolvent has lost all their money: · A spokesman denied the bank was insolvent, but depositors are rushing to withdraw their money.· The court ordered the dissolution of seven insolvent housing loan companies.become insolvent: · The company auditor has filed a warning that Eurotunnel is in danger of becoming insolvent.declare somebody insolvent (=say officially that they are insolvent): · He withdrew savings from a major bank just two days before it was declared insolvent.render somebody insolvent (=make someone insolvent): · The bank could even be rendered insolvent by such a large payment.
informal to no longer have enough money to pay your debts, so that you have to stop doing business: · The supermarket isn't there any more. They went bust ages ago.· About 60,000 business go bust each year in the United States.
if something ruins someone, it makes them lose all their money and property after working very hard for it, and they have to stop doing business: · Many firms have been ruined by hasty decisions.· The incident has all but ruined her financially.· She is still angry with the suppliers, who she says ruined her by failing to deliver on time.
to make something look, taste, or seem much less good · A badly positioned path can spoil the appearance of a garden.· The power station is extremely ugly, and it spoils the view of the sea.spoil something for somebody · New housing developments are spoiling the countryside for everyone.
to completely spoil something: · The rain had ruined her best velvet skirt.· Don't use harsh soap to wash your face. It will ruin your skin.· Protestors say that the proposed new airport will ruin this peaceful area.
written to spoil the appearance or beauty of a person or place: · Electricity cables and oil pipelines mar many of the world's most beautiful landscapes.· He had handsome Arabic features, marred by a long scar across his face.
to slightly spoil something that is generally very good, beautiful, impressive etc: · Even a bruise on her cheekbone did not detract from her beauty.· The proposed building would detract from the character of the surrounding area.
to make an event less enjoyable or successful · The bad weather completely spoiled our holiday.· Why did you have to invite Jerry? You've spoiled the whole weekend.· This was her moment of glory, and she wasn't going to let anyone spoil it.spoil something for somebody · She wanted to do her own thing, but was afraid of spoiling Christmas for the rest of the family.spoil things · He got very drunk that evening, and seemed determined to spoil things for all of us.
to completely spoil an event or occasion, with the result that no-one enjoys it: · How can you prevent stomach upsets from ruining your holiday?ruin something for somebody: · John and Sandy argued all the time, which completely ruined the evening for the rest of us.
if something unpleasant such as an argument or accident mars a big or important event, it makes it less enjoyable or less successful: · Outbreaks of fighting and lawlessness marred the New Year celebrations.· The race was marred by a horrific accident involving Niki Lauda.
if bad news, bad weather etc puts a damper on something, especially on a social event such as a party, it spoils people's enjoyment of it: · The bad news put a damper on the celebrations.· Torrential rain put a damper on the event, sending bedraggled guests squelching across lawns to seek shelter.
if something casts a shadow over an event, period of time etc, it makes people feel less happy or hopeful because they are worrying about it: · The threat of war cast a shadow over the summer of 1939.· This argument with Kuroda did, I must admit, cast a shadow over my mood.
to spoil someone's work or plans · Don't let me spoil your plans.· This scandal could spoil the Senator's chances of becoming President.· We were going to get married, but then war broke out and spoiled everything.spoil something for somebody · Starting a family so soon would definitely spoil her career prospects for her.
to completely spoil what someone has been trying to do: · Surely you don't want to ruin all our good work, do you?· Serious in-fighting ruined the Conservatives' chances of winning the election.
informal to spoil something important or something that has been carefully planned: mess up something: · The travel agents messed up the arrangements and there was no room for us at the hotel.mess something up: · We secretly organized a party for her, but then Bill messed everything up by telling her about it.
to spoil something that has taken a long time to develop: · The kidnappings undermined several months of delicate peace negotiations.· The US was accused of undermining international efforts to combat global warming.
informal to completely spoil something such as a plan, especially by doing something stupid: · Someone screwed up and what was supposed to be a confidential email was copies to everyone in the company.screw something up: · I can't trust you to do anything right can I? You always manage to screw things up.screw up something: · There was no way he was going to allow her to screw up his plans.
to deliberately spoil someone's plans or arrangements because you do not want them to succeed: · Her father sabotaged her acting ambitions by refusing to let her go to drama school.· The attack is being seen as a deliberate attempt to sabotage the peace talks.
British /throw a monkey wrench in/into something American informal to unexpectedly do something that prevents a plan or process from continuing or succeeding: · "He won't lend us the money after all.'' "Well, that's really thrown a spanner in the works, hasn't it?''· The President's veto threw a wrench into a program that had already been approved by a big majority of the Congress.
to spoil someone's plan, suggestion, or attitude towards something, by saying something that makes it seem less attractive or less likely to succeed: · Her mother had poured cold water on the whole idea of Eva going to Africa.· The committee's final report, just published, pours cold water on government proposals for helping the unemployed.
WORD SETSabove the line, adjectiveabsorption rate, acceptance sampling, accountant, nounaccount balance, accounting, nounaccounting rate of return, accrued cost, accrued income, accumulation unit, acid ratio, actual price, A/D, adjustable peg, nounADR, nounadvancer, nounAER, aftermarket, nounAGI, aging schedule, agio, nounAICPA, allottee, nounallowable, adjectivealternative investment, amortizable, adjectiveannual earnings, annual income, annual value, annuity, nounappraiser, nounappropriate, verbappropriation, nounappropriation account, arb, nounas at, prepositionas of, prepositionasset, nounasset backing, asset shuffling, nounasset stripping, nounasset-stripping, verbasset turnover, asset value per share, Association for Payment Clearing Services, nounassured value, at best, adverbat call, adverbaudit, verbauditor, nounauditor's report, auto-financing, adjectiveaverage stock, backdate, verbbackup withholding, nounbackwardation, nounbad debt recovery, bail-out, nounbalanced fund, balance sheet, nounBaltic Exchange, nounbankroll, nounbase rate, nounbasis point, bed-and-breakfasting, nounbellwether, nounbelow the line, adjectivebeneficial owner, best efforts, adjectivebeta coefficient, nounbid and asked, adjectivebill rate, Black Friday, nounBlack Thursday, nounBlack Tuesday, nounBlack Wednesday, nounblank transfer, bond, nounbond fund, bond premium, bookbuilding, nounbook debt, book entry, book-keeper, nounbook-keeping, nounbottom fisher, nounbought deal, bourse, nounbreakeven, nounbreak-up value, buildings and contents insurance, buoy, verbbuoyancy, nounbuoyant, adjectivebusiness angel, nounbusiness entity, business manager, buyback, nounbuy-in, nounbuying power, buying price, buy limit order, buy order, buyout, nouncabinet bid, callable, adjectivecallable fixture, nouncap and collar, nouncapital appreciation, capital asset pricing model, capital charge, capital dilution, nouncapital equipment, capital flow, nouncapital gain, capital invested, nouncapitalization of reserves, nouncapitalize, verbcapitalized, adjectivecapital movement, nouncapital outlay, capital rationing, nouncapital stock, capital sum, capital surplus, capital transfer, capital value, CAR, carried down, adjectivecarried forward, adjectivecarried over, adjectivecarryback, nouncarryforward, nouncarrying charge, carry-over, nouncash account, cash at bank, nouncash basis, nouncashbook, nouncash column, cash equivalent, cash flow, nouncashless, adjectivecash management, cash price, CBOT, c/d, certificate of deposit, nouncertificate of occupancy, nouncertified public accountant, nounCFO, chain of title, nounChapter 7, nounChartered Financial Consultant, nounchartist, nounchattels real, nounChicago Board Options Exchange, nounChicago Mercantile Exchange, nounChinese wall, nounchurning, nounCISCO, nounclawback, nounclean opinion, nounclearer, nounclearing agent, nounclosed-end, adjectiveclosely held, adjectiveCMA, CME, COGS, collection ratio, Comex, nouncomfort letter, commercial agent, common ownership, company doctor, company limited by guarantee, nouncompany limited by shares, nouncomparables, nouncomparable-store sales, compensate, verbcompensating error, completion date, compound, verbcompound annual rate of return, nouncompound interest, nouncomptroller, nounComptroller and Auditor General, nounComptroller General, nounComptroller of the Currency, nouncompulsory purchase order, concert party, nounconsistency concept, nounconsolidated accounts, consolidator, nounConsols, nouncontango, nouncontinuous inventory, contra account, contra-asset account, contract note, controller, nouncontrol period, conversion premium, cooling-off period, nounco-operative society, corporate investment, cost, verbcost of goods sold, nouncounting-house, nouncoupon sheet, nounCPA, nounCPI, cramdown, nouncredit, nouncredit, verbcredit card payment, credit facility, creditor turnover rate, nouncredit quality, credit repair, credit standing, credit status, creeping control, CREST, nouncurrency pair, nouncurrency peg, nounDaily Official List, nounday book, nounday order, dead cat bounce, death futures, debt capital, debt ratio, decliner, noundeed of conveyance, noundeferred credits, noundeferred income, deferred share, degearing, noundeleverage, noundelinquent tax certificate, delivery date, demand note, dematerialize, verbdemonetize, verbdemutualize, verbdenominated, adjectivedeposit certificate, depository institution, deposit protection fund, noundepreciable life, depreciation account, deprival value, derivative lease, direct exchange, direct investment, direct labour, directors register, discount brokerage, discount loan, discretionary account, discretionary order, discretionary spending, diversifieds, noundivestment, nounDJIA, dollar-cost averaging, noundollars-and-cents, adjectivedomestic investment, double declining balance, double-witching, noundown payment, noundowntick, nounDPS, drawdown, noundrawing account, dual capacity, noundual listing, due, adjectivedue diligence, earn, verbEasdaq, nouneconomic, adjectiveeffective rate, emissions unit, encash, verbequity, nounequity investment, ERM, nounerror of commission, nounerror of omission, nounerror of posting, nounerror of principle, nounethical investment, Euribor, nounEuro.NM, nounEuropean interbank offered rate, exceptionals, nounexchange arbitrage, exchange of contracts, nounex gratia, adjectiveexpense ratio, expiration date, face amount, factor cost, factoring, nounfailure, nounfair value, fand, nounFederal funds, fee absolute, nounfigure, nounfinal accounts, final distribution, finance charge, Financial Accounting Standards Board, nounfinancial investment, financials, nounfinancial services, financial supermarket, financial year, nounfinancier, nounfirst in, first out, nounfirst-quarter, adjectivefixed assets, nounfixed costs, nounfixed-income investment, fixed investment, fixtures and fittings, nounfloater, nounflood insurance, flowback, nounflow of funds, nounfocus list, foreign investment, freehold possession, free movement, nounfriends, nounfront-running, nounfull-year, adjectivefully-subscribed, adjectivefunder, nounfungible, adjectivefutures, nounfuture value, FY, G & A, gainer, noungilts, nounGinnie Mae, nounGLOBEX, nounGNMA, noungolden share, golds, noungood-faith money, government investment, greenshoe, noungross, adjectivegross income, gross investment, group accounts, grubstake, nounguaranty, nounhealth warning, nounhigh end, nounhigh flyer, nounhigh-yield, adjectiveHip, nounholding, nounholding company, nounholdout, nounhomeowner's insurance, home repair, household insurance, idle balance, imprest, nouninactive account, incentive fee, income and expenditure account, income share, incubator space, index-linked, adjectiveindirect exchange, industrials, nouninherit, verbinheritance, nouninjection, nounIN.SECTS, nouninstitutional investment, interest cover, International Monetary Fund, nounInternational Securities Exchange, nouninvest, verbinvestment, nouninvestment income, investor, nouninvestor resistance, issuance, nounissue flop, nounissuer, nounkerb market, key money, large-cap, nounlast in, first out, nounlast sale, leaseback, nounleasehold possession, ledger, nounledger clerk, legal investment, lending rate, nounletter of comfort, nounleverage, verblifecycle cost, LIFO, like-for-like, adjectiveliquidity, nounliquid ratio test, loading, nounloan-to-value ratio, London Clearing House, nounM & A, management charge, mandatory general offer, margin account, market order, material fact, nounmature, adjectivematurity, nounmid-cap, nounMMC, mortgage protection insurance, multiple (share) application, municipals, nounNational Market System, nounNational Savings Stock Register, nounNBV, net, adjectivenet, verbnet 10/eom, adverbnet 30, adverbnet annual value, net asset backing, net asset value, net book value, net income, net interest, net investment, net present value, net realizable value, nominal accounts, nominal price, nominal value, non-payment, nounnon-recurring, adjectivenote issuance facility, NPV, NTA, number-cruncher, nounOEIC, offer for sale, nounoff-market, adjectiveon demand, adverbopen interest, nounopen-market, adjectiveopen outcry, nounoperating income, option, nounoption premium, option pricing model, options contract, order-driven, adjectiveorigination, nounoutflow, nounoutturn, nounoutward investment, overallotment, nounoverborrow, verboverbought, adjectiveovercapitalized, adjectiveovergeared, adjectiveoverissue, nounoverlend, verboverseas investment, overtrade, verbowner-operator, nounP&L, packager, nounpaperchase, nounpar value, pass-through, nounpawn, verbpayables, nounpay and file, nounpaying agent, payout ratio, PDR, pension fund, nounpension plan, nounPE ratio, performance guarantee, permission to build, nounpersonal investment, petrodollars, nounPink Sheets, nounplanning application, plat book, pledgee, nounplot plan, pooling of interests, nounpork bellies, nounportfolio, nounpoundage, nounppd., prelease, verbpremium bond, nounpresale, nounprice-sensitive, adjectiveprimary share, prime-1, nounprime tenant, principal, nounprivate company, private income, nounprivate investment, privately-owned, adjectiveprivate placing, proceeds, nounprofit-taking, nounpro-forma, adjectivepro-forma invoice, prompt date, prompt note, property, nounproperty investment, pro rata, adjectiveprorate, verbpublic investment, publicly-held, adjectivepurchase journal, nounpurchases account, purse, nounp.w., quote-driven, adjectiveramping, nounrandom walk, nounratable, adjectiverateable value, rate of return, nounrating agency, real, adjectivereal accounts, real estate investment, realization concept, nounrebound, verbreceiver, nounreceivership, nounrecoup, verbrecuperate, verbred ink, nounredlining, nounrefunding, nounRegional Stock Exchange, nounregistered stock, REIT, nounremarket, verbREMIC, nounremit, verbremittance, nounrent, verbrental, nounrent-free, adjectiverepatriate, verbrepurchase agreement, research manager, reserve requirement, reserves, nounresidual value, resource, verbresults, nounretainer, nounretirement plan, nounreturn, verbreturn, nounrevenue, nounreverse share split, risk analysis, nounrisk profile, ROA, root of title, royalty payment, ruin, verbsale and repurchase agreement, sales account, sales budget, sales charge, sales returns account, salvage value, nounsame-store sales, Sarbanes-Oxley Act, nounsaving, nounSavings and Loan Association, nounSEATS, nounsecondary shares, second-tier share, securities house, security rating, self-dealing, nounself-liquidating, adjectiveSETS, nounsettlement date, settling day, nounshare application, share exchange offer, share manipulation, share split, shark repellent, nounshelf registration, Ship, nounshort-covering, nounshort-term gain, sinking fund, nounsiphon, verbsliding peg, nounsmall-cap, nounSOX, nounspeculate, verbspeculation, nounspeculative, adjectivespeculative investment, squeeze, verbstk., stockbrokerage, nounstock count, nounstockholding, nounstock parking, nounstock valuation, stop order, straight line, adjectivestructural analysis, sublet, verbsubsidize, verbsubsidy, nounsubvention, nounsum of the digits, nounsundries account, super voting rights, sustainability index, swaption, nounsystematic risk, technical analysis, technical analyst, technical correction, technicals, nountenant at sufferance, nountenant at will, nountenant for years, nountenant in common, nounterm, nountippee, nountipper, nountip sheets, nountotal, verbtrading loss, trading profit, transfer, verbtransfer agent, transfer register, trigger point, triple-A, adjectivetriple-witching, nountrue and fair view, nountrust, nountrust company, trustee, nountrusteeship, nountrust fund, nounturnover ratio, undercapitalized, adjectiveundercharge, verbunderfunded, adjectiveunder-investment, noununderreport, verbundervalued, verbunderwriting power, unearned income, ungeared, adjectiveunitize, verbunit of account, noununsystematic risk, upfront fee, uptick, nounvault cash, vendor placing, Wall Street, war chest, nounweak, adjectiveworking capital, nounwrite-off, nounwritten-down value, yield spread, yield to call, nounyield to maturity, nounYTD, YTM, zaitech, nounZ-score, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
This carpet’s as good as ruined. The town now lay in ruins.
(=make you not feel like eating a meal)· Don’t give the children any more sweets – it will spoil their appetite.
(=make it impossible for something to happen)· Drinking alcohol can ruin any chance of weight loss.
· Too many tourists can spoil the countryside.
This carpet’s as good as ruined. The town now lay in ruins.· The accusation ruined her reputation and cost her the election.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Otherwise you may completely ruin your kitchen table or working surface!· It's completely ruined the furniture.· One June day, my sister was caught in a thunderstorm, and the deluge completely ruined her hat.
NOUN· And has Phil forgotten his summer vow to ruin Ian's business?· He lost a third time when Clark and Street sued him for ruining their ferry business.· She could keep Judi out of it, but ruin a good few careers, businesses and marriages.· He now claims federal agents ruined his business and reputation.· Fakhru heard the remark, but said nothing; he preferred not to ruin a good business deal with petty religions differences.
· Any kind of sharp practice or dishonest dealing will infallibly ruin his career.· He had been found guilty by inferred accusation, and this had ruined his career.· Not sure I want to - it would ruin his career.· If you insist, we shall rigidly enforce that provision, in the courts if necessary which would ruin your career once and for all.· She could keep Judi out of it, but ruin a good few careers, businesses and marriages.· They have ruined several people's careers and lives.· They say the report has already damaged morale and could ruin their careers.· Then they would move on to acquaintances who were ruining their careers doing television.
· Despite the glossy packaging he ruined Labour's chances last time and he is set to repeat the disaster.· And such imploding partnerships can ruin all chances for success for both the people involved.· Dennis invariably ruined his own chances by his complete anti-establishment stance.· I was ruining his chances of getting free from the chains of misery attaching him to a rotten banlieue de Paris.· I feel that Piggy's lack of the understanding of human nature ruined the chance of democracy for the boys.· An absent Lexandro could ruin this chance.· She didn't in any way splash it across the newspapers because that ruined her sister's chances.· The outbreak of World War I ruined all chance of its success, and he never quite recovered financially or professionally.
· The generals know they are ruining their country, but they do not dare relinquish power.
· They did not ruin crops or attack living things.· The toll includes drowned livestock, ruined wheat crops and boats torn from their moorings on rivers around the north state.
· The fog that had ruined their day yesterday was killing them that morning.· What saves the day, then, is also what ruins the day: difference.· A doubt like faraway thunder threatens to ruin the day, that it's squandered on this.· Sometimes two syllables are enough to ruin your day.· Of course some may say he ruined the day.
· The only thing that ruined the game for me was the time it took to load each room.· The Matadors' shoddy spell in the second half ruined a good game.· Did this man know that he had ruined our game, our happiness, everything we held dear?· But the age of the fighters ruined the game for me.
· They took away his freedom, they broke his spirit, and they ruined his health.· The trip ruined the health of Pere Marquette.· I am worried that I may be ruining my health by not having enough variety in my diet.· In stern parental terms he told Uncle Allen he would ruin his health by drinking coffee.· When I think we risked our lives and ruined our health to come to this.· Study after study contend they can ruin our health with their smoke.· One slice of chocolate gateau is not going to ruin your health - but several slices a day may well do so.· They invent a few rules that don't mean anything so that you can ruin your health trying to change them.
· But I shan't let him continue to ruin my life.· Oddly, however, this incident did not ruin my life.· She ruined her life and mine, and I've ruined mine and Camille's.· The words had ruined a ruined life.· People say having a baby ruins your life, and talk about what you could have done in a job and that.· What a shame for such a nice-looking young man to be ruining his life with whiskey.· It could ruin your entire life.· This kid ruining his life at such an early age!
· Cazalbou's injury-time try came too late to ruin the party.· Teenagers, drunk, disheveled, excited they ruined our party.· He'd let them down disgracefully, ruining a dinner party that was given entirely for his benefit.
· Hatred for the girl who had dared to talk to strangers, who had ruined his plan to get rid of Sikes.· Mr Howie does not, but seems to have accepted that the criticism has ruined his board's plans.· A confrontation now would ruin all my plans.· In any case, now if ever was my chance to ruin Victor's plans.
· Their whim can make or ruin a reputation.· Canceling the tour not only would bankrupt the club, Pascoe said, but also ruin its reputation.· He has ruined Soon-Yi's reputation.· He now claims federal agents ruined his business and reputation.· But if the police handle things badly it could ruin my client's reputation and start a lot of unwelcome investigation.· Yet far from ruining the reputation of Camilla, the claims seemed only to enhance her standing within royal circles.
· Collision He's making me out to be some sort of thick, brainless loony on a self-destruct road to ruin.· This means that selfish competition, between employees as between corporations, is the road to ruin.
VERB· I've worked too damned hard just to let everything be ruined because of unsavoury gossip.· The archbishop of Toledo refused to let her premarital jitters ruin a useful alliance.· But I shan't let him continue to ruin my life.· We're not going to let our lives be ruined by other people's choices.
· She wants to ruin the play to which I have given all I possess.· Lord Hanson will not want to ruin a fine track record by acting in haste.· Do you want to ruin your beautiful suit?· But young people now realise that certain buildings, for instance, are theirs and they don't want them ruined.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► reduce something to ashes/rubble/ruins
1to spoil or destroy something completely: - He's let his father's old house go to rack and ruin.
- It seems that the government is prepared to let all our hospitals and schools go to rack and ruin.
- The old farmhouse had gone to rack and ruin.
- First they let the house go to rack and ruin, then the garden; now they were sheltering hippies.
- Yet the truth of it was that the estates were going to rack and ruin.
This illness has ruined my life. His career would be ruined. All this mud’s going to ruin my shoes.► see thesaurus at destroy, spoil2to make someone lose all their money: Jefferson was ruined by the lawsuit. → ruinedruin1 verbruin2 noun
ruinruin2 ●●○ noun WORD ORIGINruin2
Origin:
1300-1400 Old French ruine, from Latin ruinaEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- an 800-year-old Mayan ruin
- financial ruin
- We visited the ruins of the old abbey.
- An exciting feature here is an underground passage leading to a cave deep beneath the ruins.
- But the other ruins are impressive, ample and accessible.
- Even in ruin the Colosseum is a magnificent edifice of great structural interest and aesthetic splendour.
- He'd seen movement in the ruin.
- In a thousand years, archaeologists will be digging through the ruins of what was once San Francisco.
- Maybe a ruin I can fix up.
- Sailors mobilized to search for survivors wandered through the ruins in a daze.
- There seemed to be so many of them, more and more crowding silently through the ruins wherever she looked.
Longman Language Activatorto get into bad condition
if a building, structure, or machine falls into disrepair , its condition gradually becomes worse because no one looks after it: · Dave and Sally couldn't afford to get anything done to the house and it fell into disrepair.· Standing in the fields were pieces of farm machinery that had long since fallen into disrepair.
if something goes to rack and ruin , its condition gets worse and worse and no one tries to repair it until it becomes impossible to save or repair: let something go to rack and ruin: · He's let his father's old house go to rack and ruin.· It seems that the government is prepared to let all our hospitals and schools go to rack and ruin.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYadjectives This carpet’s as good as ruined. The town now lay in ruins.
(=when someone loses all or most of their money)· She faces financial ruin after losing the court case.
(=when someone loses all their money or when a country loses a lot of its trade, industry, and wealth)· Their policies have been driving this country to economic ruin for the past 13 years.
· The scandal left the government on the brink of political ruin.
(=when someone loses their position or rank in society)· In those days, breaking off your engagement could mean social ruin.
verbs· Many shopkeepers are facing ruin.
(=cause ruin for someone)· They fear that the proposals could mean ruin for small football clubs.
(=cause ruin for someone)· Unwise investment can spell financial ruin.
· This policy could lead to utter ruin.
· He believes the invention saved him from financial ruin.
phrases (=cause ruin for someone)· Her behaviour brought ruin on her family.
(=cause ruin for someone)· Farmers told how foot-and-mouth disease was driving them to ruin.
(=be close to ruin)· The recession could leave many businesses on the brink of ruin.
(=be certain to happen at some time in the future)· Is America on the road to ruin?
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=make you not feel like eating a meal)· Don’t give the children any more sweets – it will spoil their appetite.
(=make it impossible for something to happen)· Drinking alcohol can ruin any chance of weight loss.
· Too many tourists can spoil the countryside.
This carpet’s as good as ruined. The town now lay in ruins.· The accusation ruined her reputation and cost her the election.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· A 16-track testimony to the everlasting worth of ancient ruins, excluding Charlie Watts.· A visit to the ancient ruins, especially on a quiet weekday, comes close to a religious experience.· Here we sit around the ancient ruins of a Stilton, eating and talking, drinking and smoking.· Catacombs, churches, ancient ruins - all of it began blurring together.
· Michael Joyce had not suffered financial ruin by his second emigration.· A 35-year-old lawyer faces financial ruin resulting from a serious mental illness.· Pleas that the couple and their two young children will be homeless and facing financial ruin have fallen on deaf ears.· Much of the plains' cattle industry was in financial ruin.· The small businesses facing financial ruin.· Milk contaminated Scientists are stepping up tests to find the source of dioxin contamination which has brought financial ruin to two farmers.· It would spell financial ruin and possibly the end.· In this golden period Tank also sold Peron on nuclear ideas and brought even greater financial ruin as a result.
· Explore the cathedral heritage centres, Roman ruins.
VERB· Milk contaminated Scientists are stepping up tests to find the source of dioxin contamination which has brought financial ruin to two farmers.
· David and wife Carol who run a food and tourism business say they face ruin over the pipeline plans.· If he failed, he faced ruin.· The growers appeared to be facing ruin until one bright spark hit on an idea.· A 35-year-old lawyer faces financial ruin resulting from a serious mental illness.· Pleas that the couple and their two young children will be homeless and facing financial ruin have fallen on deaf ears.· The small businesses facing financial ruin.· Meanwhile in San Diego, a society wife faces ruin when her millionaire husband is arrested as a suspected drug trafficker.· But despite extra sales, many shopkeepers are facing ruin.
· Miles of poverty with modern adobe dwellings either being built or falling into ruin.· The wrong of her slighted beauty remained with her until Troy fell in ruins.· Unemployment runs at more than 50 %, and most factories have fallen into ruin.· Angered by this, she shook the mountain until the city of Skadar fell in ruins.· In 1685 the castle was burnt by the Duke of Argyll and fell into ruin.
· It was one of a number he had picked up since leaving the charred ruins of Ankh-Morpork.· This time her house was left a complete ruin.· The Temple Mount was left in ruins.· In their wake, they leave not ruins but ruin.· I won't be left in ruins.· We have been left with the ruins of this word after it was applied to grog shops to make them seem respectable.· Meanwhile, they spread to other countries; and everywhere they left behind them widespread ruin.
· The centrepiece was a gradual revaluation of the lira against the dollar-a strategy which now lies in ruins.· He thought the surrounding towns must lie in ruins now, too.· It was to lie in ruins for another sixty-one years.· I have said, and I say again, that Trantor will lie in ruins within the next five centuries.· Elizabeth Jarvis said it was like St Paul's Cathedral, miraculously saved while all around it lay in ruins.· When he was finished, Rampart Dam lay pretty much in ruins.· Abingdon's trade had been waning for some time, with its fulling mills lying in ruins and unemployment rife by 1538.· Today his dreams for a new society lie in ruin.
· Yet the truth of it was that the estates were going to rack and ruin.· First they let the house go to rack and ruin, then the garden; now they were sheltering hippies.
· Their abandoned Victorian mansion has been bought by the local council to save it from ruin.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► reduce something to ashes/rubble/ruins
1[uncountable] a situation in which you have lost all your money, your social position, or the good opinion that people had about you: - Manning's love for alcohol was the ruin of him.
- And if Mandrake goes public, however ill founded his claims, it could be the ruin of my brokerage.
- Another important site from Magna Graecia is at Policoro where there are the ruins of ancient Eraclea.
- Beneath the palace were the ruins of at least three older buildings, he said.
- Feast day, September I.. Drunkeness is the ruin of reason.
- Here are the ruins of Valle Crucis Abbey.
- Nearby are the ruins of Egglestone Abbey.
- They created a stable and prosperous society on the ruins of the old totalitarian regime.
- Construction was halted when excavation work on the baroque square unearthed the ruins of a medieval synagogue destroyed in 1421.
- Finally-and Stillman dwelled upon this at great length-whoever looked upon the ruins of the Tower was believed to forget everything he knew.
- However, the ruins of the old city are clearly visible, stretching along the coast and over half a mile inland.
- In a thousand years, archaeologists will be digging through the ruins of what was once San Francisco.
- The countryside here is dotted with the ruins of churches the government has torn down or blown up in recent weeks.
- The party was held in the ruins of Persepolis, which was built by Darius and burned by Alexander the Great.
- They had now reached the ruins of the temple.
- Walking amongst the ruins of an ancient city, for example, it is impossible to gain an overall impression of the layout.
- Our economy lies in ruins.
- Whole blocks of the city were in ruins after the war.
- Abingdon's trade had been waning for some time, with its fulling mills lying in ruins and unemployment rife by 1538.
- Elizabeth Jarvis said it was like St Paul's Cathedral, miraculously saved while all around it lay in ruins.
- He thought the surrounding towns must lie in ruins now, too.
- I have said, and I say again, that Trantor will lie in ruins within the next five centuries.
- It was to lie in ruins for another sixty-one years.
- Large rural areas lay in ruins.
- The centrepiece was a gradual revaluation of the lira against the dollar-a strategy which now lies in ruins.
- The 18th century mansion has fallen into ruin.
- In 1685 the castle was burnt by the Duke of Argyll and fell into ruin.
- Miles of poverty with modern adobe dwellings either being built or falling into ruin.
- Unemployment runs at more than 50 %, and most factories have fallen into ruin.
- He's let his father's old house go to rack and ruin.
- It seems that the government is prepared to let all our hospitals and schools go to rack and ruin.
- The old farmhouse had gone to rack and ruin.
- First they let the house go to rack and ruin, then the garden; now they were sheltering hippies.
- Yet the truth of it was that the estates were going to rack and ruin.
small businesses facing financial ruinbe on the road to ruin (=be doing something that will make you lose your money, position etc)2[countable] (also ruins) the part of a building that is left after the rest has been destroyed: an interesting old ruin the ruins of a bombed-out office block3the ruins of something the parts of something such as an organization, system, or set of ideas that remain after the rest have been destroyed: the ruins of a government that once held so much promise4be/lie in ruins a)if a building is in ruins, it has fallen down or been badly damaged b)if someone’s life, a country’s economy etc is in ruins, it is affected by very great problems: Her marriage was in ruins.5fall into ruin (also go to ruin) if something falls into ruin, it gets damaged or destroyed because no one is taking care of it: He had let the farm go to ruin.6be the ruin of somebody to make someone lose all their money, their good health, the good opinion that other people have of them etc: Drinking was the ruin of him. → go to rack and ruin at rack1(4)COLLOCATIONSadjectivesfinancial ruin (=when someone loses all or most of their money)· She faces financial ruin after losing the court case.economic ruin (=when someone loses all their money or when a country loses a lot of its trade, industry, and wealth)· Their policies have been driving this country to economic ruin for the past 13 years.political ruin· The scandal left the government on the brink of political ruin.social ruin (=when someone loses their position or rank in society)· In those days, breaking off your engagement could mean social ruin.verbsface ruin· Many shopkeepers are facing ruin.mean ruin (=cause ruin for someone)· They fear that the proposals could mean ruin for small football clubs.spell ruin (=cause ruin for someone)· Unwise investment can spell financial ruin.lead to ruin· This policy could lead to utter ruin.save somebody from ruin· He believes the invention saved him from financial ruin.phrasesbring ruin on/to somebody (=cause ruin for someone)· Her behaviour brought ruin on her family.drive somebody to ruin (=cause ruin for someone)· Farmers told how foot-and-mouth disease was driving them to ruin.be on the brink/verge of ruin (=be close to ruin)· The recession could leave many businesses on the brink of ruin.be on the road to ruin (=be certain to happen at some time in the future)· Is America on the road to ruin?