lay (something) to waste

lay (something) to waste

To destroy or ruin something completely or utterly. The fire laid an entire block of houses to waste in a matter of hours. The plundering army assembled and made ready to lay the kingdom to waste.

See also: lay, to, waste

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

lay something to waste

 and lay waste to something

Fig. to destroy something; to ruin or mess up something. The invaders laid the village to waste. The kids came in and laid waste to my clean house.

See also: lay, to, waste

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.