to lay waste lay waste (to) something
or lay waste (to) something
phrase [VERB inflects, PHRASE noun]If something or someone lays waste an area or town or lays waste to it, they completely destroy it.
The war has laid waste large regions of the countryside.
...cities laid waste by the decline of traditional industries.
The aphid is now laying waste to the wheat and barley fields.
Synonyms: devastate, destroy, ruin, spoil More Synonyms of to lay waste lay waste (to) something
See full dictionary entry for waste