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)
- (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]
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Derived terms
- rack and ruin
References
- Gary Martin, “Rack and ruin”, The Phrase Finder
- 1548, Ephraim Udall, sermon: “The flocke goeth to wrecke and vtterly perisheth.”