wreak havoc

wreak havoc

To cause a lot of problems. Termites have wreaked havoc on the structural integrity of our house, unfortunately.
See also: havoc, wreak
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

wreak havoc (with something)

to cause a lot of trouble with something; to ruin or damage something. Your bad attitude will wreak havoc with my project. The rainy weather wreaked havoc with our picnic plans.
See also: havoc, wreak
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

wreak havoc

Create confusion and inflict destruction. Havoc, which comes from the medieval word for “plunder,” was once a specific command for invading troops to begin looting and killing in a conquered village. This is what Shakespeare meant by his oft-quoted “Cry ‘havoc’ and let slip the dogs of war” (Julius Caesar, 3.1). Although the word still means devastating damage, to wreak it has been transferred to less warlike activities, as in “That puppy will wreak havoc in the living room.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in the The Birds of Killingworth (1863) stated, “The crow . . . crushing the beetle in his coat of mail, and crying havoc on the slug and snail.”
See also: havoc, wreak
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer
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References in periodicals archive ?
Summary: Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], Aug 11 (ANI): As many as 72 people have died as flood and landslides wreak havoc in Kerala while 58 have been reported missing.
Kerala floods: Death toll rises to 72
The heavy rain continued to wreak havoc in Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
39 killed, 135 injured across country in rain related incidents: NDMA
Asolar stormcould wreak havoc on Earth today, after a hole has opened up in the sun's upper atmosphere.
Solar storm could wreak havoc on Earth TODAY after hole opens up in the sun; 'Killer electrons' from a solar storm can travel at up to several million miles per hour towards our planet
"We are seeing offenders who have stolen mopeds, motorbikes and quad bikes and are using them to wreak havoc in our communities.
Police make four arrests after spate of thefts by young bikers
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia's fear that a shift to federalism would 'wreak havoc' on the country's economy is baseless, President Rodrigo Duterte's charter change committee said on Wednesday.
No economic disruption in federalism, only 'greater growth' - Con-com
Watch as PS300,000 of damage caused after three teens wreak havoc at Huddersfield Rail Station Two boys and a girl damaged rail lines, cars and closed the Huddersfield to Manchester line from 7.20 to 11.50pm 5.
TWEETS & POSTS
primark.com) primark.com) Organic plush sleeping bag PUTTING toddlers into a big bed can wreak havoc but keeping them in a sleeping bag that's big enough for them to stretch out in will make them feel safe and encourage them to stay put.
Take three for bedtime Take three for bedtime
Summary: The Environment Agency has issued 71 flood warnings and 165 flood alerts across England and Wales, as heavy rain continues to wreak havoc.
UK on severe flood alert amid deluge
Bangladesh famously defeated India in the 2007 World Cup but they remain an inconsistent side and a sell of India's supremacy looks a risky trade at this early stage, especially as their openers Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag could wreak havoc if they bat first.
Early India sell is much too risky; CRICKET
The humanoids, as the cartoon characters call them, aided by Doog and Uncle Wom, quickly engage in a frantic race to find Dab and his mischief makers before they can wreak havoc on the world.
The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley
IN WAR-TORN IRAQ, THE 56K INTERNET SPEED IS SLOW and unreliable, the satellite phone service is sketchy at best, and the region's volatility can wreak havoc on one's "normal" day-to-day activities.
When the boss is away: army reservist Vergil Chames makes personal sacrifices to manage his business from Iraq
Plot: A bumbling security guard at the Museum of Natural History accidentally lets loose an ancient curse that causes the animals and insects on display to come to life and wreak havoc.
Must be scene; NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM
Complicit employees may attempt to cover their tracks by deleting incriminating evidence and can wreak havoc on information systems in a matter of seconds.
Retrieving electronic documents
It goes without saying that a natural disaster--a hurricane, tornado, lightning strike, etc.--can potentially wreak havoc with business operations.
Generators can keep operations humming
Two others--frosty pod and witches broom--are found only in tropical America but would wreak havoc on the chocolate industry were they to spread to West Africa.
Chocoholics beware!
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