Lie in ruins Meaning in English
expression
LYE in ROO-inz
ly IN ROO-inz
Definition
To be completely destroyed or severely damaged, usually describing buildings, cities, or ideas after a disaster.
Usage & Nuances
Used both literally (for destroyed buildings/sites) and figuratively (for completely failed plans/systems). Mostly formal or literary. Common after disasters or wars. Not used for minor damage; implies near-total destruction.
Spanish: estar en ruinasPortuguese (BR): estar em ruínasPortuguese (PT): estar em ruínasChinese (Simplified): 变成废墟Chinese (Traditional): 淪為廢墟Hindi: खंडहर में पड़ा होनाArabic: تقع في الأنقاضBengali: ধ্বংসস্তূপে পড়ে থাকা - সম্পূর্ণভাবে ধ্বংস হয়ে যাওয়াRussian: разрушен - лежать в руинахJapanese: 廃墟となるVietnamese: bị tàn phá - nằm trong đống đổ nátKorean: 폐허가 되다Turkish: harab olmak - enkaz halinde olmakUrdu: کھنڈرات میں پڑا ہونا - مکمل طور پر تباہ ہوناIndonesian: hancur lebur - berada dalam reruntuhan
Example Sentences
The ancient city now lies in ruins after the earthquake.
basic
After the fire, the school lies in ruins.
basic
The castle has lain in ruins for centuries.
basic
When the war ended, whole neighborhoods lay in ruins.
natural
After the scandal, their reputation lay in ruins.
natural
Many dreams lie in ruins after such a heavy loss.
natural